[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13543]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORT FOR THE URBAN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION ACT

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2017

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Urban Agriculture 
Production Act of 2017.
  Across America, too many of our urban neighborhoods are absent of 
stores where community members can purchase fresh, healthy foods. There 
are more than 23 million individuals residing in these so called ``food 
desert'' neighborhoods, where there are no stores within one mile in 
which they can buy healthy food.
  Without healthy options, people are forced to eat unhealthy, 
processed, junk food, because that is all that is available and 
affordable. This bill is a step to correct this unacceptable trend.
  I am pleased to recognize and support the growing resurgence of 
locally grown and produced product. I see it in my own district at 
places like the Toledo Farmers Market, the Robert J. Anderson Urban 
Agriculture Center and Farm, and the Old Brooklyn Cheese Company in 
Cleveland, Ohio.
  Individuals, non-profits, and co-ops are stepping up and taking 
action to address the challenge of access to healthy food, by 
developing local food sources like community gardens to provide fresh, 
affordable produce throughout underserved communities. Not only are 
they growing product to provide to communities though, they are 
engaging and encouraging community participation all throughout the 
process. They are teaching community members how to farm.
  The Urban Agriculture Production Act encourages economic development 
in undernourished, underserved communities by furthering the mission of 
local farming. It shore ups the Department of Agriculture and their 
programs to support urban farmers and inspire communities to create 
self-sufficient food production systems that stimulate development and 
healthy eating options.
  All throughout our urban communities, there is an abundance of unused 
land and space that are conveniently located in neighborhoods that are 
ripe for agriculture development. We must support and encourage the 
means to develop these plots so they become local sources of wholesome 
food options.
  Community gardens, Greenhouses, Farmers' Markets, and other local 
agriculture initiatives have tremendous power to help diversify 
American food production. They can also help the nation rely less on 
foreign imports and create American jobs that cannot be outsourced.
  Moreover, communities that lack access to fresh, nutritious 
affordable foods are facing growing epidemics of obesity related 
diseases. We must get serious about addressing nationally recognized 
increases in preventable disease in all our communities, but especially 
in those communities that have limited food options. Prevention is 
paramount, and encouraging a balanced diet while also providing access 
to healthier foods, through agriculture, is an obvious solution.
  The Urban Agriculture Production Act of 2017, therefore, sets out to 
spur the development and expansion of community agriculture in 
typically non-traditional agricultural production areas, like our 
cities and towns who face food insecurity, access, and nutrition 
challenges.
  Mr. Speaker, urban farming, and food production should be part of our 
solution to support healthier dietary options and improve the overall 
health of urban communities. The Urban Agriculture Production Act is 
the appropriate means to further develop alternative, urban 
agricultural production and to help meet communities' food production 
needs for the future.

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