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Last month, we told you about BALT’s work protecting prime farmland. But it takes more than land to ensure that future generations will have a local source of food. It’s not farmland without farmers, and farmers must be able to make a living farming to remain on the land.
BALT has a duel mission: To permanently protect farmland and to work with farmers and the community to build an economically vibrant future for local agriculture. For the past twelve years, BALT has worked to remove obstacles and create opportunities for Bay Area farmers.
As agriculture consolidated over the past thirty years, it’s become more difficult for small-scale family farmers to compete in global markets. Local farmers have had to build new business models to survive. Innovative farmers like Farmer Al take advantage of their proximity to the Bay Area by connecting with their urban neighbors through farmers markets and farm tours. Brentwood farmers have a long tradition of u-picks and roadside stands, and people continue to flock to Brentwood every summer to pick fruit. Farms like Frog Hollow Farm have also diversified their farming operations by “adding value” to their bounty by processing it into wines, olive oils, jams, salsas and baked goods.
However, until recently, Contra Costa County’s agricultural zoning was so limiting that farmers were unable to take advantage of direct marketing, agricultural tourism and value-added opportunities. While well intentioned, the County zoning, designed to protect prime soils, prohibited all economic activity except growing crops. Farmers couldn’t make jams or jellies, wineries were prohibited and the size of roadside stands was severely limited. Over the past decade, BALT has worked closely with Contra Costa County to reform agricultural zoning to allow expanded roadside stands, commercial kitchens, wineries and olive oil presses.
There’s a still lot of work to be done! County zoning prohibitions against farm-to- table cafes and farm stays continue limit agricultural tourism in East Contra Costa. Together with local farmers, BALT will continue to advocate for local regulations that support a vibrant urban-edge agricultural economy.
For more information about BALT and for updates on Brentwood farming, please visit www.brentwoodaglandtrust.org or follow BALT on Facebook.
