PublicProduce:TheNewUrbanAgriculture

PublicProducemakesauniquelycontemporarycasenotforcentralgovernmentintervention,butforlocalgovernmentinvolvement.InwhatDarrinNordahlcalls“municipalagriculture,”electedofficials,municipalplanners,localpolicymakersandpublicspacedesignersareturningtotheabundanceoflandunderpubliccontrol(parks,plazas,streets,citysquares,parkinglots,aswellasthegroundsaroundlibraries,schools,governmentoffices,andevenjails)togrowfood.Publicagenciesatonetimewereatbestindifferent,oratworstdismissive,offoodproductioninthecity.Today,publicofficialsrecognizethatfoodinsecurityisaffectingeveryone,notjusttheinner-citypoor,andthatpoliciesseekingtorestructuretheproductionanddistributionoffoodtothetensofmillionsofpeoplelivingincitieshaveimmediatebenefitstocommunity-widehealthandprosperity.