Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush Joins Young Farmers for Florissant Urban Farm Visit

Below is a press release from Congresswoman Cori Bush.

Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) visited with local urban farms Heru Urban Farming and Garden and Earthdance Farms, urban farms located in North County, Missouri that provide organic and non-gmo food to food desert communities as well as providing healthy food education to local schools.

“As someone who has experienced hunger and who has struggled to feed my family, I not only understand the severity of the problem of food insecurity, I’ve lived it,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “That is why I am dedicated to fighting everyday in Congress for policies that would ensure no one goes hungry and everyone is able to access affordable and nutritious food, for themselves and their families.”

Across North County, many zip codes are considered “food deserts” by the USDA, meaning that the thousands of residents living in these areas are without access to grocery stores, let alone healthy food options. This severe lack of food access means entire communities right here in our region experience malnutrition, making them more susceptible to damaging health outcomes.

Last year, Congresswoman Bush was able to secure nearly $1.5 million dollars in Community Project Funding to go towards A Red Circle to help fight food insecurity in North St. Louis. Specifically, this funding will go toward their NEXUS project, a hub that will open grocery store stocked with affordable, locally sourced food, as well as a cold storage and a distribution site for local urban Black farmers in North County, a commissary kitchen for residents, as well as a community space to teach those in the community about nutrition and how to prepare healthy foods.

This year, Congress will be considering the farm bill—an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. It provides an opportunity for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural and food issues. In addition to developing and enacting farm legislation, Congress is involved in overseeing its implementation. The farm bill typically is reauthorized every five years. The current farm bill is set to expire September 30, 2023. One of Congresswoman Bush’s top priorities that she will be pushing for in this farm bill includes an increase in investments for sustainable and urban agriculture. 

“Urban agriculture can lead to better air quality, increased access to healthy, local food and more green space in our communities,” said Congresswoman Bush. “Places like Heru Urban Farming and Earthdance Farms in St. Louis, are showing the multitude of environmental, economic, and social benefits that sustainable, urban farming can have on our communities. That is why with the pending reauthorization of the farm bill, I am pushing for more investments in sustainable and urban agriculture.”

In addition to urban agriculture, Congresswoman Bush is also pushing for the upcoming farm bill to include measures which protect and enhance SNAP benefits and increase federal support for Black farmers and farmers of color.