When Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke to the AFBF Convention yesterday he talked about the idea of urban farms and how we should be open to the idea of farm diversity. I just had this project brought to my attention since one of the founders has a connection to my family in Georgia. It’s Atlanta Harvest. They’re looking for funding as they get the project off the ground. Here’s what their mission statement says:
The mission of Atlanta Harvest is to cultivate passion and drive innovation in the city, for the city. We love the city of Atlanta and want to see it thrive through dignifying work opportunities and increased access to locally grown, farm fresh food. Our goals are:
- To close the gap between local food producers and local food consumers
- To further spread the art and career of farming to distressed neighborhoods in the city
- To support communities through increased economic vitality
- To meet the Atlanta market’s demand for farm-fresh organic produce from within the city
We will accomplish these goals by creating a food hub and a network of independently-owned, high-output farms. The food hub will provide processing, distribution, and marketing for the farms. The farms will produce a consistent, organic supply of leafy greens! Through our farming network, individuals or organizations with little to no farming experience can quickly own and operate their own farm. And thanks to the food hub, they will have a guaranteed buyer and seller for all that they produce. The Atlanta Harvest model is designed to serve both farmers and customers.