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Cities Developing Urban Agriculture Codes

Urban agriculture has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to deal with vacant properties, revitalize neighborhoods, and provide job skills and nutrition to local residents struggling with poverty and a lack of access to fresh produce.

In Austin, Texas, a working group of the Sustainable Food Policy Board is meeting to clarify and update city code related to urban farms, livestock, size of farm, employees and dwellings, according to the Austin Chronicle.

The working group has been holding public sessions to gather input from urban farmers and community members about pending updates to the urban farm ordinance.

In April 2013, the Flint Farmers' Market reported that the Detroit City Council adopted the city's first urban agriculture zoning ordinance recognizing agriculture as a legitimate land use and setting standards for it.

Other cities working to update or create urban agriculture codes include Boston, Massachusetts;
Fort Collins, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon.

For more information, see USDA's National Ag Library webpage on Urban Agriculture.

Home » Directories & State Resources » AgMRC Directories » Texas State Resources

Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
Texas AgriLIFE Extension - Offers practical, how-to assistance. Call your county Extension office for more information.
Texas Department of Agriculture
Texas Fact Sheet, Economic Research Service, USDA - This specific fact sheet includes current data on population, per-capita income, earnings per job, poverty rates, employment, unemployment, farm and farm-related jobs, farm characteristics, farm financial characteristics, top ag commodities, top export commodities, and top counties in ag sales.
Texas Farmers' Markets
Texas USDA Rural Development
More Links
- Extrusion Technology Program, Food Protein R&D Center, Texas A&M University
- Food Protein R&D Center, Texas A&M University
- Manufactured Food Division, Bureau of Food and Drug Safety, Texas Department of State Health Services
- Starting a Business: A Guide to Texas Business Licenses and Permits, Texas Economic Development
- TDA Agriculture Diversification - Helps agricultural businesses, farmers and ranchers grow and diversify their agricultural operations by providing technical assistance and economic development information and research to assist rural communities and rural businesses, particularly natural resource based businesses.
- TDA Market News Report - Recorded price information updated several times a day for livestock, grain, fruits and vegetables, and poultry and eggs, also available by calling 800-252-3407.
- Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council - Mission is to promote, support, and advance the interest and understanding of agricultural, utility, and credit cooperatives and their members through legislative and regulatory efforts, education, and public relations.
- The Small Business Resource is designed to help business owners and entrepreneurs solve problems and locate key public and private organizations and individuals. These are business decision makers - businessmen and women looking to expand their operations, relocate companies and plan a business startup.
  - Texas-Dallas/Ft. Worth
  - Texas-Houston

State Contacts

Billy L. Curb
Texas USDA Rural Development State Office
Temple, TX
(254) 742-9775
Billy.Curb@tx.usda.gov

Ismael Delgado
The University of Texas - Pan American
Texas Rural Cooperative Development Center
Edinburg, Texas
(956) 292-7542
idelgado@utpa.edu

Judy Fort
Texas Department of Agriculture
Austin, Texas
(512) 475-1608
judy.fort@tda.state.tx.us
www.tda.state.tx.us

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