Urban Agriculture Month

WHEREAS, since Colonial times agriculture has been an important part of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s and Arlington County’s economy with early colonists and their families working on the land to raise food for themselves and their livestock; and

WHEREAS, although the County, the Commonwealth and the Nation have become increasingly suburban and urban, agriculture continues to play an important role in Virginia’s economy and in local communities including Arlington County, with farmers’ markets, community gardens, and urban agriculture activities, education and awareness programs as well as the efforts of Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington Public Schools, Friends of Urban Agriculture, Reevesland Learning Center, Virginia Cooperative Extension programs symposiums, and various non-profits; and

WHEREAS, natural events ranging from strong storms and hurricanes to extreme temperatures demonstrate the importance of focusing on sustainable food systems and food security as well as the need for a more coordinated approach to growing, distributing, and accessing healthy food; and urban agriculture helps strengthen sustainable community food systems locally and regionally and bolster food security; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Cooperative Extension showed that if every family in Virginia spent $10 a week on fresh, local food and farm-based Virginia products, more than $1.65 billion in economic impact would be generated; and

WHEREAS, the use of urban agriculture initiatives can promote community wellness and environmental sustainability, enhance education and learning, and help preserve the Commonwealth’s agricultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, and the General Assembly have designated October as Urban Agriculture Month and will provide the opportunity to promote and educate Virginians as to the benefit and importance of urban agriculture programs to local communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jay Fisette, Chair of the County Board of Arlington, Virginia, do hereby proclaim October 2017 as

URBAN AGRICULTURE MONTH

in Arlington County to promote and educate residents as to the benefit and importance of urban agriculture programs in our community.

Jay Fisette, Chair