One of the SuperMarket's newest members, Growing Power, is a nationwide
nonprofit organization and land trust based in Milwaukee, WI. It supports
people from diverse backgrounds through programs in urban agriculture and
the creation of distribution networks of small farmers. Growing Power
has helped other communities to be self-sufficient and establish their own
Community Food Systems.
Community Food Centers are systems that provide high-quality, healthy,
and affordable food for all residents in the community. Growing Power's
Milwaukee-based Community Food Center has been established for several
years and features a wide variety of active demonstrations, including
aquaculture, vermiculture, and large-scale composting. In February 2002,
Growing Power opened a Chicago-based Community Food Center in order to
train staff to manage the emerging community food centers and urban
farm projects throughout the Chicagoland area. Growing power also
established the Rainbow Farmer's Co-op, a marketing co-op that helps
farmers to sell their fresh produce and farm products at a fair and
equitable price.
At their Community Food Centers, people can learn sustainable practices to
grow, process, market, and distribute food. The Center in Milwaukee provides
training programs, active demonstrations, community outreach, and technical
assistance. Their training programs range from educational tours to the
development of entrepreneurial projects with community groups. Their
intensive multi-day workshops bring together youth and adults to learn
how to develop community based gardens and food systems. Growing Power
also offers a multi-year apprenticeship program which offers youth from
low-income backgrounds both academic and professional experience. Their
programs train 3,000 people per year and help to reclaim inner-city
neighborhoods through urban agriculture.
Products
Unique products of sustainable agricultural systems, Black Gold Tea,
Honey, and Coffee are available from Growing Power. Growing Power's
Black Gold Tea provides a nutrient-packed fertilizer made from plant
material and coffee bean by-products. Growing Power roasts its own
blend of delicious Fair Trade coffee, using the coffee by-products
in its Black Gold Tea. Their Urban Honey is produced at the last
remaining farm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin run by Growing Power. The
urban environment actually helps their bees produce 50% more honey
without chemicals or pesticides. These products are all available
on the SuperMarket website.
