The Food Desert Act Policy Needs Local Grassroots Oversight by Jennifer Poroye
In February of this year , the state government enacted the Food Desert Act Policy. This policy, in conjunction with the Economic Recovery Act, promises to provide up to $40 million a year in funding for the next six years to increase the public’s access to nutritious foods and develop new approaches to relieve food deserts.
Part of the Food Desert Act Policy also focuses on allocating funds to 50 communities across New Jersey that qualify as food deserts. This list was carefully crafted through the input of various departments. Among them include The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, The Department of Agriculture, The Department of Health, and the Department of Human Services. With the funding, government officials aim to develop supermarkets and grocery stores within these designated communities.
To say the least, the Food Desert Act Policy is exactly what we need. This legislature has all and more of the potential to positively transform communities in New Jersey. Furthermore, it also has the power to influence other states around the country to tackle food insecurity. This can do so much. And yet, at the same time, there is something very important missing in its implementation: Community input and collaboration.
Many well-intentioned policies tend to gloss over this key element. But when it comes to food insecurity, listening to and working with community members, leaders, and organizations is critical to understand where the issues lie. Even with crafting the list of food desert communities, leaders of NJDA stressed how important gathering public input was to connect people to the right farms with fresh produce.
Many local grassroots organizations in New Jersey have been doing the work needed to address food insecurity. These organizations have a clear understanding of the issues and have been addressing them already. These organizations know and connect with their communities in ways that the federal government simply can’t do.
Take the Newark Community Food Systems, for example. This organization alone is composed of award-winning leaders with a great deal of experience in grassroots community organizing and sustainable urban agriculture. Each year, NCFS hosts seasonal events with a focus on sustainable living practices, urban agriculture, and community needs. Among them include a Harvest Community Meal. This meal is composed of produce harvested by local urban gardeners, and residents are invited to partake in this community meal while enjoying live music and spoken word performances. As a grassroots organization, NCFS also connects with different local artists and vendors and invites them to increase community participation.
To remedy the lack of affordable, locally grown food NCFS member , Al-Munir/Urban Seeds Grow, endeavors to purchase and redevelop two of the City of Newark’s Adopt A Lot properties into multidisciplinary and specialized resource hubs, on the vacant properties, that include hydroponic and industrial growing technology, health and wellness businesses, and recreational greenspaces for the North Broadway and South Broad St Neighborhoods. The redevelopment of Al-Munir/Urban Seeds Grow requested properties includes the implementation of greenhouses, fitness and resource centers, cafes and more.
Additionally, one could also take a look at the Farm to Table initiative started by Newark Science & Sustainability, a community-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing environmental, ecological, and wellness issues in Newark. The Farm-to-Table initiative follows the model of a Community Supported Agriculture program, where a local farm is sustained by shareholders within the community. Through this program, community members make an affordable payment in advance to receive weekly, fresh, and locally grown produce packages, feeding 2-4 people for up to 20 weeks. The packages are also personalized with cooking demonstrations, nutritional fact sheets, direct conversations with farmers, and much more. Something important to note in this system is that local organizations know the demographics and preferences of their fellow community members. As a result of this, they grow produce and create cooking material that is culturally relevant to residents. Grassroots organizations like this implement sustainability and solutions that genuinely cater to community needs because they genuinely know their community.
Grassroots organizations can do more than give food to people in need. They can do more than construct grocery stores and supermarkets. They address food insecurity in ways that make community members feel welcome, included, and valued. They are creative placemakers that curate communal resources in ways that genuinely express the community’s specific needs and culture. They spark a sense of communal participation, independence, and pride that sustain collective well-being better than any policy could. If government officials want the Food Desert Act Policy to work in New Jersey, giving local grassroots organizations the task to oversee the process is the most effective way to achieve food security and sovereignty.
