Global Growers: Connecting the dots one garden at a time

In DeKalb County, it’s not uncommon to walk by or encounter a diverse group of people.

In the span of one day, one can pass a group of teenagers hailing from such places as Ethiopia, Vietnam, Japan, Nepal and North Carolina. In the same day, one can encounter their parents at their respective places of business.

On certain days, one can encounter such individuals tilling fields, planting fruit and vegetable seeds, and harvesting fresh crops on the same plot of land, all thanks to one local nonprofit.

Global Growers Network (GGN), an independent metro Atlanta nonprofit founded in 2009 as an arm of Refugee Family Services, now provides more than 250 refugee and low-income families throughout DeKalb County with opportunities in farming.

Through managing 20 acres at four locations in Clarkston, Stone Mountain and Decatur, GGN is able to provide land and agricultural support for farmers. The network’s farmers include individuals and families growing for both private and commercial interests.

“What we’re trying to do is connect several dots together,” said Robin Chanin, executive director. “There’s a tremendous demand from Atlanta’s refugee community for opportunities to grow food much like they did in their home countries. We leverage this demand with the current interest in supporting local agriculture in order to create economic opportunities and to increase the health of our communities, whether this be through developing community and market gardens or launching careers and businesses in agriculture.”

Chanin said GGN specializes in giving refugees a chance to use their farming skills in the DeKalb County area. Annually, the gardens GGN manages produce 200,000 pounds of food to be taken home by the farmers themselves, sold at local farmer’s markets and distributed to local restaurants.

“We are connecting talent and opportunity,” Chanin said at a recent Clarkston city council meeting. “We are connecting refugees to their agricultural heritage here in their new homes. We are, in the process, creating a new heritage for agriculture in the southeast United States that reflects that diversity.”

Chanin also said Global Growers is making sure these farmers get their fair share of the fruits of their labor. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), most commercial farmers receive less than 10 percent of the overall profits from the crops they sell.

“We’ve sold more than half a million dollars’ worth of produce,” Chanin said. “Seventy-five percent of that goes to the farmer, 25 percent goes back to Global Growers. We’re turning the current food distribution model upside down in an attempt to create a more equitable food system that values the producer.”

To help give back to the community, GGN only sells at farmers markets that accept or double the value of food stamps. This way, Chanin said, the nonprofit can sell products a half-price while still giving most of the value straight back to the farmer.

“We’re trying to develop an ecosystem that ensures that farming can be a viable business,” Chanin said. “It’s kind of magical, really. We’re trying to shift the way that agriculture works in a way that’s more supportive of its producers and diversity.””

At the same time, according to Chanin, Global Growers is changing the diets of its region through health-conscious and diverse produce. The executive director said diversity was needed in most American diets just as much as other societal aspects, something Chanin calls a “justice issue.”

“It translates into health for our environment, our farmers and our consumers,” Chanin said. “Our food system is currently focused on caloric needs, we’re focused on nutrition needs. We produce enough calories to feed our community but we do not produce enough nutrition.”

According to Chanin, GGN is in such high demand that their 20 acres are completely full. The executive director explained that the waiting list to start farming at one of the four sites numbers more than 100 families.

“We’re looking to increase the amount of land acceptable to farmers to start food production,” Chanin said. “We’re maxed out on land. The demand for what we do is greater than our capacity to meet it.”

For this reason, Chanin has been engaging with city officials in the municipalities where gardens are located. She said most towns are supportive in providing land access and discussing relevant issues like agriculture education.

The general public has been aiding Global Growers through interest, volunteering, creating more space for members, and buying food. Financial donations up to $50,000 also have been accepted.

“People generally donate around $100,” Chanin said. “But you’d be amazed how far the $5, $10, and $20 donations go. It’s one of my favorite things to see: people contributing what they can. It’s important.”

Global Growers already distributes products to such businesses as Twain’s Brewpub and Billiards, The SoulShine Sprouts Homesteading Preschool, Souper Jenny, Grand Hyatt Buckhead, Candler Park Market, Pine Street Market, Avalon Catering, Wrecking Bar Brewpub, Murphy’s and Garnish & Gather, but is finding more innovative ways to move product and benefit its many refugee and low-income farmers.

“[Global Growers] is spending more time on wholesale distribution in addition to direct sales,” Chanin said.

For more information on Global Growers Network, including information on contributing, visit www.globalgrowers.org.