San Diego Community gardens to get $7 million from county
“Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue of food access.”
By Deborah Sullivan Brennan
San Diego Union-Tribune
Jan. 27, 2022
Excerpt:
Community gardens will get $7 million toward their operations, after the county Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to spend that amount on local food projects.
The board unanimously approved using the money from the American Rescue Plan Act to improve access to healthy food in San Diego neighborhoods. Board Chair Nathan Fletcher said the investment could reduce food insecurity and improve environmental conditions.
“It can help get people fresh produce. It’s a wonderful engagement tool (to keep) seniors and others staying active,” Fletcher said. “It can have an environmental benefit of not having to truck things and ship things or go to grocery stores and buy them.”
The San Diego Hunger Coalition reported that one in three San Diegans experience food insecurity and can’t provide three healthy meals per day to their families, a letter to the board stated. That leads to higher rates of chronic health conditions in communities with hunger issues, it stated.
