Alpharetta Competes to Create City Agriculture Plan in Partnership with Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission
Food Forum Event Scheduled for Community Input
When: Saturday, December 4, 10 AM
Where: Old Rucker Farm, 900 Rucker Road, Alpharetta GA 30004. Shuttles depart from Equestrian Center at 11915 Wills Road at 9:45 AM
Social Media: @FarmatOldRuckerPark
Registration: https://alpharettacommunityfoodforum.eventbrite.com
The city of Alpharetta invites residents to attend a Community Food Forum on Saturday, December 4th at 10 AM to voice their support for a strong local food system and learn more about the City Agriculture Plan process. The city applied to develop a City Agriculture Plan in partnership with Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission and has been chosen to participate in this next step of the selection process.
A City Agriculture Plan aims to bring local governments together with their communities to create plans incorporating urban agriculture and local food into the next phase of the city’s development. Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission will select one city to develop a City Agriculture Plan in 2022 and also receive $75,000 in grant funding. The Community Food Forum will inform the selection process by assessing the readiness and enthusiasm of each competing city to participate in the comprehensive and inclusive planning process.
Local residents are invited to attend the Food Forum to learn more and to reflect on how support for local growers and increased access to local food and agricultural goods can enhance Alpharetta.
“The City of Alpharetta is excited about the possibility of developing a comprehensive plan for our community agriculture program, and about our residents getting more involved in it. The program has grown tremendously over the past three years and an overarching plan would create a road-map for the future,” said Jim Gilvin, City of Alpharetta Mayor.
"The growth of Alpharetta's community agriculture program over the past few years has been so inspiring. We are excited to hear from more residents about their vision for a strong local food system and how a formal City Agriculture Plan can benefit their community," said Sarah Brown, Policy and Advocacy Manager of Food Well Alliance. "We are proud to partner with the Atlanta Regional Commission as we expand the City Agriculture Plan initiative to a second city and work towards a regional coalition advocating for local food in metro Atlanta."
Tours of Old Rucker Farm will follow the event. Residents are invited to see what is new at the city-operated farm, including the Grow-A-Row garden, poultry palace, pollinator garden, and community garden plots.
Parking and shuttles will be available at the Wills Park Equestrian Center, located at 11915 Wills Road, Alpharetta, GA 30009. Shuttles will start at 9:45 AM.
If you are interested in learning more about Alpharetta’s community agriculture program and the Old Rucker Farm, click here: https://alpharetta-community-agriculture-program.square.site
