USDA Cuts Funding for Ivanhoe Neighborhood Farmers Market

One day after taking office, USDA’s newly confirmed Secretary Brooke Rollins canceled all the department’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs. Included in the broad mandate was Kansas City’s Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council (INC), which last fall had been granted $165,000 over three years to fund its community garden and learning farm and to expand its farmers market.

The INC — which currently provides a community garden, learning farm, and farmers market from June through September — was planning to use the funds to expand its farmers market by supporting local Kansas City growers through training and networking. The grant would have also partially funded the market manager's salary and a new part-time assistant market manager's compensation.

USDA Secretary Rollins cited diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the termination document sent to INC’s executive director, Alana Henry, on Valentine’s Day. But Ivanhoe was not the only organization or community to receive the bad news.  Secretary Rollins announced that the USDA had terminated 78 contracts valued at $132 million, and was reviewing 1,000 more.

In a statement, the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council said it is both shocked and saddened that its farmers market has been defunded. The three year Farmers Market Promotion grant was aimed at sustaining and expanding the farmers market and increasing local food production.  The INC was also going to fund business training for minority growers.

“This decision threatens access to fresh, locally grown food for our community and impacts urban farmers, vendors and families who rely on this market as a vital resource. Food access should not be a political issue – it’s a human right,” noted the INC officials.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city will work with the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council to see where it can offer support. "This is not some random luxury; this is food. This is food for the people in the urban core of our city," he said.

The Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council is looking for volunteers and donations; it hopes to continue the expansion of its farmers market despite the termination of its grant. Alana Henry is asking that anyone interested in getting involved or providing financial support contact INC at farmersmarket@incthrives.org. More information is available at www.facebook.com/Ivanhoefarmersmarketkcmo.