City Farmers is a new collective that exists to support urban farming, entrepreneurship, jobs, stronger neighborhoods, and healthy foods in Grand Rapids.
The organization grew out of Andy Dragt's Urban Farm venture at 940 Wealthy St. SE and is on track to plant organic produce on six vacant lots in Grand Rapids immediately. More expansion is planned for 2014.
This produce will then be sold at local farmer's markets, to area restaurants, and through local delivery service Doorganics, which will also be providing cold storage for the farms.
Mike Hughes, founder of
Doorganics and one of the organizers of City Farmers (along with Dragt and and Jonathan Williams of Thinkbox Creative), says the demand for locally grown organic vegetables far outweighs the supply. "One small urban farmer can't maintain the relationships and produce for markets and restaurants. If all city farmers come together, they can begin meeting the demand."
To help support City Farmers, a crowd funding campaign seeking additional investors is being launched. The collective is also in the process of creating educational programming and community outreach initiatives in 2014 to identify more land and business partners for the organization.
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A Community & Media Day with City Farmers is scheduled for Monday, Au6. 26, 6 - 8 p.m. at Uptown Farm, 940 Wealthy St. SE. The event is open to anyone interested in urban farming and food.
More information can be found at
CityFarmers.us.
Source: Mike Hughes, Doorganics, Press Release, City Farmers
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor
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