Building Urban and Rural Linkages for a Healthy, Affordable Food Environment

At the heart of the movements for a more sustainable, local food system and for healthier food retail options in historically marginalized communities is the desire for greater equity: equity in a producer’s income potential, in a consumer’s choice, in a food worker’s treatment, and in access and affordability of food for all.

Substantial policy interest in locally produced foods and food access culminated in the 2008 Farm Bill through a series of innovative policy options advanced by members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, as well as the House Congressional Black, Hispanic, and Asian Caucuses. These policies are a steppingstone for broader policy dialogue about equity in farm and food policy, including federal food assistance programs, farm support policies and participation, economic development in under-invested rural and urban communities, and social justice in historically marginalized communities.