Agriculture, land access, food sovereignty and the policies surrounding them have always been at the center of our nation’s history of racial oppression and discrimination. As a group of predominantly white, land-owning millennials who live and farm conveniently within the prosperous community Ann Arbor, we are aware of the many privileges and connections we have taken advantage of, which have contributed greatly to our success. As any small farmer will tell you, growing food is no easy task. Nor is running a small business. But these ambitions are almost impossible without access to land and capital, general goodwill, or a safety net during a couple of hard years. One of the most remarkable parts about the creation of GTFC is our newfound capacity to share the fruit of our labor and engage our community in the practice of redistributing wealth.
Raising awareness and garnering support
During this time we have made it part of our mission to raise awareness and garner support for the many minority farmers who are doing the crucial work of maintaining food sovereignty for their communities, taking back the privilege of working the land, and acting as role models and visionaries of a more equitable society.
What follows is a working list of black and minority owned businesses and organizations, which we support and hope to raise awareness of:
Willow Run Acres (Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor)
Founder and farmer T.C. Collins has been sharing his passion for growing food and building community for many years through classes, workshops, and volunteerism.
We The People Opportunity Farm (Ypsilanti)
Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association (Opportunity Farm) in 2015, with a mission to provide career training and employment to formally incarcerated men and woman.
Old City Acres (Sumpter)
“Started in 2013, Old City Acres is a human powered no till vegetable farm based out of Sumpter, Michigan. Our main focus and goal is providing the freshest, tastiest, and most nutrient dense food possible to the local south east Michigan community 12 month out of the year. Old City Acres sells to restaurants, grocery stores, cooperatives, cafes, and farmers markets. Although not certified, all of the produce is grown using beyond organic practices. However, our main ingredient to grow the best produce possible is love.”
Detroit Black Community Food Sovreignty Network (Detroit)
Founded to ensure the participation of Detroit's African American population in the local food movement.
Soul Fire Farm (Petersburg, NY)
https://www.soulfirefarm.org/
Founder Leah Penniman has become a national figure for her tireless work towards “uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system”.
Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance
https://nativefoodalliance.org
“An organization dedicated to restoring the food systems that support Indigenous self-determination, wellness, cultures, values, communities, economies, languages, and families while rebuilding relationships with the land, water, plants, and animals that sustain us.”
