Mayor Coleman Young of Detroit developed and implemented the Farm-A-Lot program in 1975 to encourage urban agriculture in the city, but the impact of this effort faded at the turn of the century.
After the country-wide recession struck, Detroit's depression worsened, which resulted in increases in unemployment, crime, and poverty levels.
[3] One third of Detroit residents do not own automobiles and many passengers of public transportation wait an hour at bus stops.
[7][6][8] The low economic status of the city is illustrated by the following statistics: 30% of Detroit's residents remain unemployed, and 36% live in poverty.
Kellogg Foundation in efforts to promote community involvement and growth in ensuring lifestyles of health and fitness.
In 2000, Malik Yakini, principal of Nsoroma Institute Public School Academy charter school, worked with staff, parents and supporters (including Anan Lololi of the Afr-Can FoodBasket from Toronto) to implement organic gardening and to develop a food security curriculum.
[13] This is an important case for DBCFS because they need to refrain from breaking any laws and regulations while carrying out the mission to develop healthy urban agricultural systems.
[13] The group discussed the need for black community involvement in urban agriculture, as well as food justice, security and sovereignty.
[citation needed] Detroit Black Community Food Security Network has more than 70 members, of which 80% are women, including individuals, seven families, and one organization.
[16][17][1] DBCFSN aims to transform the city of Detroit by encouraging African Americans to take control of their food system.
In June 2007, the organization acquired use of a half-acre plot of land owned by the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church.
The D-Town Farm hosts an annual Harvest Festival which attracts local and regional supporters by the hundreds.
[15] During the 2010 growing season, they produced upwards of 37 crops, including acorn squash, zucchini, kale, collards, tomatoes, basil, green beans, cabbage, watermelon, pumpkins, beets, turnips, and radishes.
[15] This co-operative, operated by DBCFSN from 2008 to 2016, provided community members with an alternative place to buy household goods, bulk items, healthy foods and supplements for an affordable price.
[25] The co-op intends to increase community ownership and food access among Detroit's Historic North End's residents.
[1][24] The bill includes plans for developing a food system analysis database for Detroit, undertaking data collection on hunger and malnutrition, formulating recommendations for alternative food systems such as urban agriculture, creating citizen education guidelines, and producing an emergency response plan in the event of a natural disaster.