The South Valley near Albuquerque is seeing an agricultural renaissance of sorts. First Choice Community Healthcare just broke ground today on a community farm there. Advocates are fixing their attention on local food as a form of preventative health care.
Juan Lopez is the coordinator with the South Valley Community Commons.
“We're bringing the land back to its most beneficial community usage,” Lopez said.
The neighborhood used to be an agricultural oasis, Lopez said, but now it’s known as a food desert because residents don’t have a lot of access to local fresh food. The farm is part of their effort to address health, economic and racial inequalities.
“It’s going to address a lot of food insecurity issues,” Lopez explained. “So that the community can train and learn how to implement some of what they learn at their own homes.”
There’ll also be an agriculture learning center and a local co-op partner will help harvest crops.
