Tampa gardeners seek funding to address food insecurity
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In Tampa, Florida, Dee Morales of 813 Hood Garden and other community garden organizers are requesting more financial support rather than further studies on food insecurity.
Residents in East Tampa have lacked a supermarket for ten years, leading Morales to establish a network of gardens to provide fresh produce. While Hillsborough County and Florida have seen increases in food insecurity since 2020, over 15 percent of residents in the county struggle to access affordable food, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture recently cancelled its annual survey measuring the issue. Jaryd Hinch, a researcher at the University of South Florida, developed a model to identify neighborhoods best suited for community gardens, prioritizing areas with high poverty and low income. However, Monica Petrella, a food systems coordinator, argues that gardens need consistent funding and volunteer support to thrive, not just strategic placement. She observed that existing gardens often flourish in affluent areas where residents have more free time and resources.
Petrella and Morales both believe that gardens alone cannot solve food insecurity, which stems from economic issues like a lack of grocery stores in low-income areas. Morales emphasizes the need for sustained support for existing gardens while communities continue to advocate for broader systemic changes. The Coalition of Community Gardens found that gardens with network support had a zero percent failure rate, compared to a 50 percent failure rate for those established before the coalition formed.
