Healing the Racial Divide in Urban Agriculture

The promise of urban agriculture (UA) is in its potential to transform the communities around it. But who is able to farm in urban spaces and the intended goals of urban farms determines the extent to which that transformation exploits or confronts systemic and institutional racism. Based on a 2019 report, the authors consider the racial divide between “commercial” and “community” urban farms, including the racist policies and practices that make UA both possible and necessary. By reframing the value of UA, city planners and urban policy makers have an opportunity to promote a racially just food system. The chapter concludes with recommended strategies to support the transformational potential of UA.