On a plot of land in French Camp, Glenn McMillon and the Black Urban Farmers Association are growing fruits and vegetables they hope can help fill a gap in communities where fresh, affordable produce can be hard to find.
McMillon helped launch the Black Urban Farmers Association, also known as BUFA, in 2015 with a group of 12 people who wanted to address what they saw as a lack of access to fresh foods in many Black and Latino neighborhoods.
The organization grows fruits and vegetables without pesticides and distributes produce while also teaching residents how to grow their own food through workshops, fairs and community events.
"It's priced too high. So people in our community, a number of people in our community cannot afford organic produce that Walmart, Safeway, or Food 4 Less and other big chains may provide," he said.
From a small farm to a wider mission
McMillon credits fellow co-founder Reatha Hardy-Jordan with helping grow the organization after two key members of the original leadership team relocated to Texas.
McMillon said the work has given him a new respect for farming after not being exposed to it while growing up in New Orleans.
The challenges facing Black farmers extend well beyond California.
Boyd, a fourth-generation farmer and longtime civil rights advocate, said generations of Black farmers have faced barriers accessing government loans and agricultural assistance programs.
Boyd said he personally experienced discrimination while applying for a federal farm loan in the 1980s and has spent decades advocating for minority farmers.
"We had certain grants that I personally worked on," Boyd said. "One was a $300 million grant that would allow Black and other farmers of color to purchase land, and this president totally eliminated the grant."
"At times, the goal of seeing Americans fed has been replaced by prioritizing social issues that promote division, not unity," Rollins said. "As a taxpayer-funded department, it is our duty to ensure the highest quality of service, and this cannot be done when prioritizing politics over our mission."
How to support BUFA
"It's a joy to see a seed grow into a crop, something that you can actually eat that started out as a seed," McMillon said.
BUFA relies on community support through volunteers, donations and board members to continue expanding its programs.
Hence then, the article about san joaquin county nonprofit uses farming to combat food deserts support black communities was published today ( ) and is available on CBS sacramento ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( San Joaquin County nonprofit uses farming to combat food deserts, support Black communities )
Also on site :