This past Sunday (24th June), the co-op and community members took a trip to Milton to visit the Black Farmers Collective. Amidst the rain and mud, we walked through the farm and saw the hard work of the collective. The farmers exhibited the importance of growing locally farmed and sustainable food. Cabbage, leeks, beets, tomato, fennel, calaloo, and onion are just a few of the produce grown on the land showing that it is possible, feasible, and necessary to grow food within a urban area.

Chatting to the farmers and listening to them speak on food issues made us realise that even within our city of Toronto, food security is a serious issue. In particle, it is an issue that requires us to work, and collaborate together to fight the socioeconomic issues created by global corporations.

We must change food system from one where it’s easy and convenient to eat unhealthy fast food toward one where everyone is able to afford and access good clean local food. It is up to us to be resilient and reach out to our local farmers and representatives to foster sustainable community development by supporting local farming, both in the urban city of Toronto and in rural areas. Regardless of class or background, we all need healthy and affordable food, no one can dispute this.

Thank you to the Black Farmers’ Collective for giving us such an enriching and inspiring visit. We look forward to our next visit where we will help farm!

-Bianca C.