Boston should be fruitful and lead in urban farming

A harvest at The Food Project’s West Cottage Farm in Dorchester, MA. Greig Cranna Photography. Link to story: On the lookout for lead.

A vision that should grow as tall as corn, as aromatic as basil, and as bright as a tomato

Editorial
The Boston Globe
November 27, 2010

Excerpt:

City Fresh Foods in Roxbury is already proving the viability of the concept, farming crops this past summer on land owned by the Sportsmen’s Tennis Club on Blue Hill Avenue. The lettuce, arugula, basil, spinach, beets, broccoli, and mesclun mix were purchased by local restaurants, food services, and the Boston Harbor Hotel. “There is a net gain on so many levels,” City Fresh founder Glynn Lloyd said. “You’re taking land that’s been sitting for 30, 40 years, and otherwise would be sitting for another 30 or 40. You’re producing fresh, local, non-chemical products, hopefully creating some jobs and reducing the carbon footprint. When gasoline went crazy a couple years ago, even Walmart was looking at local produce. We’re trying to be a little bit ahead of the curve.”

Adding more farms would further dispel the stereotype of inner cities being “food deserts” cut off from the endless variety of fruit and veggies at suburban supermarkets. With its plethora of farmers’ markets, Boston is already a national leader in making fresh produce accessible to all. New food policy director Edith Murnane believes actual farms in the heart of the city will take things one step further, “knitting communities together around food.” This is a vision that should grow as tall as corn, as aromatic as basil, and as bright as a tomato.

Read the complete article here.