The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is opening a new office in Compton to support urban agriculture in the greater Los Angeles region, and they’re establishing a committee to help.

They’re calling it a committee, but I think of it as a mechanism for Greater LA ag people to meet, listen to each other, find common cause, and work together to grow food and feed people. And please note: “Greater LA includes Los Angeles County and the more urbanized northern portion of Orange County. The USDA will dispense advice and help fund projects; that’s certainly worth a lot. But if we’re lucky, the committee will form a stable platform for people to meet, converse, plan, build relationships and get fruitful things done.

If you’re a farmer, run a food bank, work with community gardens, do community composting, run a farm-to-school program, manage a hydroponic farm, or teach or do research in any of these or related areas, and you’re working in an urban area of Los Angeles or Orange Counties, you may be eligible.

The deadline to apply is April 14. Call now for more information:

Brooke Raffaele

State Outreach Coordinator

California Farm Service Agency

U.S. Department of Agriculture

(530) 219-7747

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“The urban and suburban county committees will work to encourage and promote urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices. Additionally, the county committees may address areas such as food access, community engagement, support of local activities to promote and encourage community compost, and food waste reduction.”

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/county-committee-elections/index