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Challenges for small organic farms

Small organic farms continue to face challenges.

Sherry Chenn is a coordinator with Springfield Ohio Urban Plantfolk, a community-based urban ag group that addresses food security.

“Farmers who are growing local food and their workers are not getting a living wage – bringing that together with the fact that people who are on fixed incomes or low incomes can’t afford organic food and often don’t even have access to it,” she says.

She tells Brownfield many groups in the ag industry are working together to address these challenges by offering programs.

“The beginning farmer programs that are starting up, for example, to help younger people find a way into land access and learning how to farm,” she says.

Chenn spoke to Brownfield at the 40th annual Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association Conference.

Audio: Sherry Chenn, Springfield Ohio Urban Plantfok