Community gardens to get $7 million from county

Community gardens will get $7 million toward their operations, after the county Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to spend that amount on local food projects.

The board unanimously approved using the money from the American Rescue Plan Act to improve access to healthy food in San Diego neighborhoods. Board Chair Nathan Fletcher said the investment could reduce food insecurity and improve environmental conditions.

“It can help get people fresh produce. It’s a wonderful engagement tool (to keep) seniors and others staying active,” Fletcher said. “It can have an environmental benefit of not having to truck things and ship things or go to grocery stores and buy them.”

The San Diego Hunger Coalition reported that one in three San Diegans experience food insecurity and can’t provide three healthy meals per day to their families, a letter to the board stated. That leads to higher rates of chronic health conditions in communities with hunger issues, it stated.

Food advocates often refer to areas without ample grocery stores, farmers markets or other sources of fresh food as “food deserts.”

“Much like the pandemic, nutrition insecurity disproportionately impacts our low-income communities and communities of color, and that was true prior to the pandemic,” Supervisor Nora Vargas said. “Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue of food access.”

As part of the action, the board also approved spending $1 million on a plan to create a “sustainable, equitable and local food sourcing program” for the county’s food distribution programs. Those include meals for people in hospitals or detention centers, seniors, foster youth and people with HIV/AIDS, as well as food sold through the county’s cafeterias and vending services.

The board asked county Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer to draw up an agreement with The San Diego Foundation to distribute funding for the community garden projects, which could include shared plots or equipment for container gardens in areas where land is unavailable.

Anyone interested in information about the grants can sign up for updates on the county website.