Last year, the City of Pittsburgh launched its first Food Justice Fund, investing $3 million to improve food access in underserved communities. Through this initiative, Grow Pittsburgh received $464,157 to help residents grow food, access fresh produce, and support healthier living as food costs continue to rise.
Nearly half of the award, more than $204,000, was shared directly with five local Black-led organizations to support urban farms, community gardens, produce stands, education programs, and a medically tailored food box program. One of those partners, Mwanakuche Community Garden, used the funding to expand culturally meaningful food access in Perry South and nearby neighborhoods.
During the summer 2025 market season, Mwanakuche operated a weekly farm stand in Perry South while also providing home deliveries across Pittsburgh. The garden prioritizes seniors, immigrant families, and households without reliable transportation, ensuring fresh food reaches those who need it most.
Last season’s harvest reflected the cultural traditions of the communities served. The garden distributed tomatoes, sweet corn, green peppers, Somali beans, Somali pumpkin, and Somali squash, while cassava root matured in the fields.
Produce reached 25 households in Perry South and 15 families from Northview Heights at the farm site. Fresh food from the garden was also delivered to 30 families and six seniors unable to travel. The community garden also welcomed 10 Congolese families to harvest directly from the garden, which created opportunities for community members to pick foods deeply connected to their traditions.
Beyond food distribution, the garden worked on building its long-term community capacity. Four new resident volunteers joined the farm team and participated in hands-on training in planting, harvesting, and traditional growing practices.
Through the Food Justice Fund, Mwanakuche Community Garden has not only increased access to fresh food but also cultivated knowledge, cultural connections, and shared stewardship of the land.
Grow Pittsburgh is proud to have partnered with Mwanakuche Community Garden and four other food-growing partners in 2025. We are hopeful that the City of Pittsburgh will continue to provide a Food Justice Fund in the future to help address food insecurity, which has increased in our community since 2020. Feeding America’s 2025 Map the Meal Gap Study reports that food insecurity has increased overall in Allegheny County, but especially among Black residents, where it has spiked from 25% in 2020 to 33%.