SAN DIEGO, CA – On Saturday July 30, San Diego Food System Alliance, Slow Food Urban San Diego, International Rescue Committee, and Alchemy San Diego will be hosting an Envision Urban Agriculture Fair from 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. to support the local food movement and celebrate the City of San Diego’s implementation of Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones (AB 551). The Fair will include an urban farmers market, heirloom seed swap, healthy cooking demos by chefs, soil corner with composting demos, local kombucha and beer, local organic food makers, workshops including beekeeping, resources for growers by nonprofits and nurseries, small farm animals, crafts for kids, and live music. The sponsors for the Fair includes Urban Plantations and UCSD.
Envision Urban Agriculture Fair will be held at SILO – MAKERS QUARTER™, an outdoor venue in East Village with several vacant lots nearby. The Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Ordinance (AB 551), recently ok-ed by the City Council in the City of San Diego, will provide a property tax incentive for private landowners to turn their vacant lots into urban farms and community gardens. In the City of San Diego, it is estimated that there are at least 3,000 vacant lots that are eligible for this tax incentive.
“There are so many great efforts happening in San Diego County around food,” says Elly Brown, Director of San Diego Food System Alliance. “Our County has the most number of small farms and the most number of organic farms in the nation. We are known for our craft breweries, craft coffee roasters, and healthy food makers. This event is an opportunity to celebrate our local food system and policy efforts that will help us grow food in an urban environment, keeping our food sources truly local.”
The Fair will take place immediately following the 2016 Food Forum held at City College from 10:00 A.M.– 1:00 P.M. hosted by San Diego Food System Alliance, International Rescue Committee, and County of San Diego. The Forum brings together advocates, city and County leaders to discuss food policy opportunities. The Forum’s keynote speaker, A.G. Kawamura, who is former Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (2003-2010), will also be giving a talk at the Fair from 2:00 P.M.
Guest speakers for the 2016 Food Forum include:
- A.G. Kawamura, former Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
- Steve Cohen, Manager, Food Policy and Programs, City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
- Nancy Alcala, Co-Coordinator, Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities, Food Justice Workgroup
- Rachel Surls, Sustainable Food Systems Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension in LA County
- Dr. Keith Pezzoli, Director, Urban Studies and Planning Program at UCSD; Director, Bioregional Center for Sustainability Science, Planning and Design at UCSD
Information regarding the Envision Urban Agriculture Fair and 2016 Food Forum are available online at http://www.sdfsa.org/
