Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently unveiled the USDA Urban Agriculture Toolkit, a new resource created by USDA’s Know Your Farmer team that intends to help entrepreneurs and community leaders use urban agriculture to successfully create jobs and increase access to healthy food in their communities. The announcement was made during the opening of a new school community garden at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore after the idea for the Toolkit was originally conceived at a USDA Urban Agriculture roundtable held nearby in Baltimore last spring.
“Urban agriculture helps strengthen the health and social fabric of communities while creating economic opportunities for farmers and neighborhoods,” Vilsack said. “USDA’s Urban Agriculture Toolkit compiles guidance from our Know Your Farmer team and many private partners into one comprehensive resource to help small-scale producers manage all aspects of their business. From protecting soil health to marketing to schools and grocery store chains, USDA has tools to meet the needs of this new breed of innovative urban farmer and small business owner.”
Industry estimates show that local food sales in the U.S. totaled at least $12 billion in 2014, up from $5 billion in 2008. Experts anticipate that value to hit $20 billion by 2019. The numbers are also showing that urban agriculture opportunities are helping to drive job growth in agriculture, increase entrepreneurship, and expand food access and choice.
USDA’s Toolkit is an electronic document that focuses on some of the most pressing challenges confronting urban producers. Users have access to more than 70 helpful resources regarding land access, soil quality, water resources, capital and financing, infrastructure, market development, production strategies, applying for federal, state or private foundation grants, technical assistance and financing opportunities.
University extension service partners in Chicago and Indianapolis helped develop cost estimates for starting urban farms, and the toolkit includes information on best practices and check lists for start-ups and early-stage producers planning outdoor or indoor operations.