Urban agriculture plan would close the ‘freshness gap,’ say lawmakers

The plan would promote NYC farming and community green spaces

By Caroline Spivack
Curbed
Jun 12, 2019

Excerpt:

A new bill backed by nearly 50 elected officials would require the city to develop an urban agriculture plan that would promote farming and community green spaces across the city.

The bill, introduced by City Council member Rafael Espinal, Jr., would require the Department of City Planning (DCP) to take stock of the boroughs’ existing and potential urban agriculture spaces, and identify zoning and land use policies that could be tweaked to cultivate their growth. Such a plan aims to close the “freshness gap” by expanding the availability of fresh greens and fruits in low-income neighborhoods, Espinal stressed at a Tuesday City Council hearing.

“When we support urban farms and community gardens we are creating more equitable access to affordable and healthy food,” he said. “We have to strive past no New Yorker going hungry and go a step further to ensure that no New Yorker is starved of fresh food.”

If the bill is approved, city officials would have until July 1 to craft the plan and deliver it to Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and post it to the city’s urban agriculture website. The feasibility of creating an Office of Urban Agriculture would also be explored in the report, according to the bill.

City planning officials are on board with the idea, but want to ensure that specific issues facing the urban agriculture community are being addressed in the plan to ensure city resources are being used “efficiently and effectively,” said Alex Sommer, the deputy director of DCP’s Brooklyn office.

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