This is an urgent moment for the food equity movement. Congress will soon reauthorize the 2023 Farm Bill, an important package of federal legislation which shapes virtually every aspect of the U.S. food and agricultural system—what kind of food farmers grow, how much it costs, who has access to land and resources to farm, and who benefits.
This September, Equity Advocates has a goal of raising $8,000 to support our campaign advocating for an equitable Farm Bill.
Even better, your gift now will be matched by a generous donor. All new donations to the campaign through the end of the month will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $3,000! If you’ve been meaning to contribute now is the time to help us get there. Your gift, in any amount, will make a tremendous difference.
Your donation will support our community-driven advocacy campaign (co-led with Black Farmers United NYS and Food for the Spirit) which calls on Congress to promote sustainable regional food systems, advance racial equity, address food insecurity and more!
September is also Hunger Action Month, a time for everyone to stand up against hunger in New York City, State and communities around the country. No one should ever go hungry and the Farm Bill is a key piece of solving this problem.
What is the Farm Bill? Why does it matter?
The Farm Bill, a package of federal legislation, has a huge impact on our land, our food, our health, and our climate. If you care about making fresh, local, healthy food available for all; farmers markets; climate change; food co-ops; farmers and land access; composting; community and school gardens, or nutrition education (and more!) then you care about the Farm Bill.
Fast Farm Bill Facts:
The Farm Bill funds SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), our nation’s largest nutrition program which is proven to lift millions of people out of poverty and boosts local economies. SNAP is 76% of Farm Bill funding, providing over 40 million low-income individuals with funds to buy food across the country.
Programs funded by the Farm Bill also strengthen regional food supply chains and food economies, invest in new and BIPOC farmers, support existing and emerging models of urban agriculture, and more.
The Farm Bill is only renewed by Congress every five years, so this opportunity won’t happen again until 2028!
The Farm Bill has historically upheld structural inequities and as a result farmers of color are underrepresented in federal investments in farmers and experience greater land loss. For example, 98% of US farmland is owned by White people and Black farmers make $1 for every $5 a White farmer makes in New York State.
The 2023 Farm Bill is an opportunity to reshape our food system and address the historic and ongoing effects of structural racism.
Equity must be at the core of the new Farm Bill and that is exactly what Equity Advocates is fighting for.
Your gift today will make an incredible difference—funding today’s 2023 Farm Bill Campaign, while also ensuring a more equitable future for years to come.
What we’re Doing to Make the Farm Bill More Equitable?
Above, we shared exactly why the Farm Bill is so crucial. (Hint: it’s not just about farms, but touches on everything from school gardens, food prices, farmers markets and much more.) Unfortunately the Farm Bill has also traditionally upheld historical inequities. How can we change that?
We believe that the communities most impacted are the voices that should be lifted up to Congress. That is why Equity Advocates partnered with Black Farmers United NYS and Food for the Spirit, collaborating to host a series of New York State listening sessions that prioritized hearing from BIPOC farmers, growers, producers, practitioners, and advocates.
Over 300 New Yorkers shared how the 2023 Farm Bill can better support access to land, climate and food justice, nutrition assistance, and regional food systems. The resulting policy recommendations represent a collective voice from community food leaders, farmers, gardeners, land stewards, producers, and advocates.
Equity Advocates then worked to educate and mobilize communities across New York State to advocate for a Farm Bill that promotes sustainable regional food systems, advances racial equity, helps address food insecurity and more!
We are engaging the public now around 2023 Farm Bill advocacy opportunities, including engaging key Congressional and local leaders and launching a “postcard writing” campaign to showcase our policy positions. To build public awareness, we hosted several Farm Bill 101 trainings and are taking our campaign on the road at community events across NYC.
The Difference YOUR Support Makes
At Equity Advocates, we are dedicated to championing meaningful shifts in food and farming practices and policies, and by contributing to our fundraising campaign, you will play an essential role in advancing our mission. Your support will directly impact our 2023 Farm Bill campaign in several ways:
Knowledge Sharing: Our passionate team will invest critical staff time to host Farm Bill 101 workshops and monthly “Y'all Come” organizing meetings, conduct comprehensive analyses of legislation, and create community-facing campaign materials. Your donation enables us to foster collaboration and partnership across the state and build an educated network of food advocates.
Catalyzing Grassroots Action: We will create and launch targeted grassroots actions like letter-writing and calls to elected officials, social media storytelling and more to amplify our policy priorities. With your generosity, we will mobilize community food leaders, farmers, land stewards, producers, and eaters across New York to call on Congress for a 2023 Farm Bill that promotes sustainable regional food systems, advances racial equity and helps address food insecurity.
Engaging Political Leaders: With your backing, we will engage with key Congressional and local leaders, sharing our expertise to inform policy decisions. Your support facilitates ongoing education and advocacy to ensure elected officials hear from grassroots voices across NYS.
Why Policy Change Matters
At Equity Advocates, we're dedicated to more than just alleviating hunger – we're committed to dismantling its systemic roots.
While immediate food assistance is crucial, addressing underlying issues is equally vital. When we shape policies in the Farm Bill influencing food production, distribution, and access, we create meaningful, long-term transformation. To most effectively champion policies promoting equitable food systems, we are committed to developing meaningful collaborations with partners and communities across New York State.
This collaborative, transformational work takes time, relationship building, and organizing that wouldn’t be possible without your support.