Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces $500,000 Urban and Community Farming Pilot Program In Florida
Through this pilot program, we have an opportunity to mitigate these unintended climate consequences while injecting healthy, hyperlocal fresh produce into the low-nutrition food deserts too common across Florida.”
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried Website
July 2, 2021
Excerpts:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Energy are announcing the establishment of the Florida Urban and Community Farming Pilot Program. This program makes available support for urban and community farming projects to promote cleaner air, lower building heating and cooling costs, and provide additional stable, affordable, and secure sources of fresh produce.
Developed by the FDACS Office of Energy, this pilot program will provide funding to local governments, Florida School Boards, and community-based non-profit organizations that offer community gardening and/or food pantry programs to establish urban and community farming programs in densely populated communities and food deserts. Commissioner Fried has previously supported urban agriculture efforts, from the Florida Urban Agriculture Act in the state legislature, to helping launch an urban farming partnership between one of Florida’s largest agribusinesses and the only woman-led company in vertical agriculture.
