Dallas Considers Updating Urban Agriculture Policy to Improve Healthy Food Access

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City leaders in Dallas, TX want to revamp the city’s urban farming policies to allow more folks in Dallas to grow and sell their own fresh food. Many areas around town don’t have a large grocery store near by, making it hard for neighbors to buy fresh, healthy food. Advocates see city gardens as one solution to diet-related illnesses that often plague those without easy grocery store access.

The Office of Environmental Quality presented their plan to restructure the rules around city gardening to the Dallas City Council Economic Development Committee who endorsed it on November 17, 2014.

The city already passed a community garden ordinance in 2011, but many city leaders believe it needs an update to encourage healthier eating, sustainability, and job creation. Currently, for example, any crops grown within city limits cannot be sold. Changing that rule could bring economic benefits as well as healthy foods to underserved neighborhoods.

Read more about the plans here.