US (IL): Mayor launches urban farming network

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Growing Power, a leading local urban agriculture organization, have launched Farmers for Chicago, a new program that will make available up to five acres of City-owned vacant lots for urban farming activity, and help expand the supply chain for neighborhood-level food production. The city lots will be prepared for local nonprofits that will be able to install food-growing equipment and train up to 25 people in urban farming. The three-year program will help establish the nuts and bolts of a strong local food sector in neighborhoods lacking fresh produce by preparing urban growers with the skills necessary to succeed at food commerce, including growing and packaging fruits and vegetables, and distributing them to retailers, including farmers markets, local corner stores, grocery chains, and restaurants. Trainees will be selected from local food-growing programs. The program will provide them with technical assistance needed to start a food business, including help with obtaining General Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, building a farm operation, constructing a hoop house, and building a distribution plan. The trainees will also have access to shared tools and support from Growing Power.