DETROIT – Detroit urban farmers are mobilizing to provide fresh produce to community members affected by the temporary suspension of federal SNAP benefits during November’s government shutdown.
Related: Metro Detroit schools step up to support as SNAP benefits face pause
“We’re bringing our food together to make it available to those in need,” says Travis Peters of Green Boots Veterans Community Urban Farm and Marketplace, an urban farm located near the intersection of Southfield Freeway and I-96 in Detroit.
The initiative represents a coordinated response from local urban farming collectives to address growing food insecurity concerns in the metro Detroit area.
“And it’s not just any food. We put our hearts and souls into it. It’s fresh, high-quality, organic practices of growing foods. The old-fashioned way,” Peters explains.
The local urban farmers are offering various produce options, including eggplant varieties, tomato varieties, pepper varieties, and mixed greens.
Amanda Brezzell, Co-Founder of Fennigan’s Farm in Detroit and a food policy specialist, notes that food insecurity was a significant challenge even before the current crisis.
“Even in just this year alone, before we even got to focusing on SNAP benefits and all of the issues with the government shutdown, we were already seeing a lot of people needing a lot more than we were producing, even last year,” Brezzell says.
She expresses concern about the situation potentially worsening.
“We’re already dealing with a lot of people who don’t have. So, I anticipate it’s going to get a lot worse. I think that people are going to just have to try to continue to connect with different places, different farms that are offering that I think that people are living in a lot of fear and that’s going to continue, unfortunately.”
As uncertainty looms over food access during the government shutdown, Detroit’s urban farming community remains committed to supporting its neighbors.
“We’ve got your back. Right here. This is the moment of truth,” emphasizes Terry Peters. “We wanted to seize it, just offer some aid to our community.”
The temporary pause in SNAP benefits comes as part of the broader federal government shutdown, affecting millions of Americans who rely on the program for food assistance. Local initiatives like these urban farming collectives are working to bridge the gap and ensure community members maintain access to fresh, healthy food options during this period of uncertainty.
Green Boots Veterans Community Urban Farm and Marketplace is located at 13500 Southfield Freeway, Detroit, MI 48223.