1.
Introduction
Urban agriculture is a growing movement in many
metropolitan areas suffering from food desserts. Advocacy
efforts in Sacramento have resulted in zoning reform that
enables previously exclusionary land use regulations to be
rezoned for urban agriculture and food cultivation.
In my research, I analyze the city’s efforts of implementing
the Urban Agriculture Ordinance and determine any
setbacks or challenges with regard to the following:
v food security and food systems access
v community beautification
v livable and equitable communities
v economic development through local foods
Key Findings
Although we know past legislation that is advocated for
agricultural preservation (i.e. Williamson Act), my study
analyzes impacts preservation through (re)zoning :
v The Urban Agriculture Ordinance was a great step in
decriminalizing the practice of urban farming
v The ordinance does not do enough to accommodate
for the costs of institutionalizing urban agriculture
v There is a huge disconnect between communities and
the local government agencies who are leading the
policy reform and implementation.
Greenzoning for Food Justice:
Analyzing UAIZ’s in California’s Farm-to-Fork Capital
Marjan Kris Ramos Abubo, UC Los Angeles
Luskin School of Public Affairs, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Figure 1: GIS Analysis that reinforces
inclusionary zoning practices, such as taking
into account opportunity and constraint areas
Policy Implications
Enacting the Urban Agriculture Ordinance already has
positive benefits, but unless the local government provides
further resources and financial support for the ongoing and
anticipated operations of urban agriculture, city farming will
not be affordable or accessible to many residents and
communities who would like to take advantage of the
opportunity.
More attention must go into how the ordinance is applied to
the city, which populations are most impacted by this
legislation, and how to better bridge their needs and wants
with what the city can provide, both legally and financially, to
ensure future success.
Figure 2: A field study
of Yisrael Family
Farms, located in the
N. Oak Park district of
the city
With the passage of AB551, also known as the Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone (UAIZ) Act, cities across the golden state
have taken strides to demonstrate their commitments to food access and security for residents. The city of Sacramento,
who has campaigned vigorously to be known as the “Farm-­to-­Fork” capital of the US, has institutionalized programs to
advocate for a more food-­conscious environment. Of their earlier successes, passing of the city’s Urban Agriculture
Ordinance was an integral component of the city’s urban agriculture movement, showing how the local government has
taken a step towards making it more efficient to integrate farming within the cityscape. The ordinance provides a facelift to
abandoned and vacant lots eligible for the development and promotes healthful lifestyles while property owners are given a
tax incentive to turn their land into garden plots. These efforts, however, only provided a short-­lived solution for local area
residents who wish to turn vacant, sometimes abandoned lots into flourishing gardens for neighborhood garden growing. In
my research, I will argue that evidence analyzed through a multitude of research designs show that the ordinance is only a
piecemeal success;; meaning, there is much more to be done for urban agriculture reform in the city of Sacramento.