Urban Agriculture
Urban Agriculture, or food production in cities, can offer a range of social, economic, health, and environmental benefits. From advancing food sovereignty and community engagement to improving fresh food access, urban farms and gardens are valuable community assets. Additionally, they often generate income, provide green spaces and ecosystem restoration in underinvested neighborhoods, and can play an important role in the local food supply chain. The Center for Community Food & Resilience supports urban agriculture throughout Los Angeles County through several active programs and pilot projects focused on education, mentorship, research, and technical assistance.
Regional Food Business Center
Regional Food Business Centers are an initiative of the USDA to build more resilient, diverse, and competitive local food systems. UEPI’s Center for Community Food & Resilience is leading the Los Angeles subregion of this program along with a team of local organizations at the forefront of urban agriculture innovation in Los Angeles County.
Urban Agriculture Summer Internship
Students work alongside urban farmers and gain experience in urban food production methods, community engagement and workshops, as well as marketing, sales, and food assistance acceptance. This internship is part of UEP/UEPI's Summer Internship Program. Application is typically released early Spring semester. For more info and application, click here.
Urban Ag at the Market
The Urban Ag at the Market program trains urban farmers, backyard growers, and campus farms to grow for and sell at their neighborhood farmers’ markets, building valuable skills and expanding access to fresh produce in their communities.
FEAST
FEAST (Food, Energy, and Sustainability Team) Garden, is Occidental’s student-run organic garden that grows produce, raises a brood of hens, mitigates waste through composting, restores native plants on campus, hosts educational workshops, engages with the surrounding community, and acts as a teaching and learning space for issues of sustainability, environment, and food. Rosa Romero is FEAST’s Faculty Advisor.