Anti-Racism and Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are part of an agricultural system based in a history of racism and oppression.
In order for OFMA to achieve our mission—to support local agriculture and healthy communities by strengthening and promoting Oregon’s farmers markets—OFMA aims to support equity for all communities by focusing on racial justice.
OFMA’s Resources For Anti-Racism Work
OFMA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statement
Join OFMA’s DEI Committee
If you have any questions about our DEI committee or about how to join, please email Amanda Cross with questions.
Webinars + Toolkits On Anti-Racism At Farmers Markets
Workshop: Making Progress Toward Anti-Racist Farmers Markets
This workshop was presented for OFMA by Allinee "shiny" Flanary, Market Manager at Portland’s Come Thru Market.
Download the Accompanying Booklet: Making Progress Toward Anti-Racist Farmers Markets
Toolkit: Beyond Traditional: Farmers Markets Incubating Social Change
shiny has also put together a comprehensive toolkit for Market Managers detailing how to make markets more welcoming and inclusive spaces for BIPOC shoppers and vendors, and transform them into incubators for social change.
2021 Workshop Series: Uprooting White Supremacy
A 2021 three part workshop series presented by Sunny Dakota Spencer, Worker-Owner & Trainer at AORTA.
Pt. 1: Uprooting White Supremacy in Farmers Market Organizations: workshop recording
Pt. 2: Interrupting White Supremacy Every Day: workshop recording and slides
Pt. 3: Building Equitable Farmers Markets: workshop recording and slides
AORTA’s racial justice assessment tool for farmers market managers.
Kenneth Jones' and Tema Okun's work on the characteristics of white supremacy culture.
2022 Workshop Series: Uprooting White Supremacy
In 2022, AORTA presented an updated series covering anti-racism and white supremacy culture at farmers markets .
Pt. 1: Uprooting White Supremacy and Building Equity: workshop recording and slides
Pt. 2: What Conflict and Feedback Have to Do With White Supremacy: workshop recording and slides
OFMA’s 2020 Annual Meeting
Check out these presentation slides from the diversity, equity & inclusion workshop at OFMA’s 2020 Annual Meeting.
Farmers Market Coalition Anti-Racist Toolkit
In 2022, the FMC released a toolkit aimed at helping farmers market managers make progress toward becoming anti-racist managers of anti-racist markets. Download the toolkit here.
Strengthening Inclusive Democracy in Food System Spaces
OFMA and Amy Herzfeld-Copple of Western States Center presented “Strengthening Inclusive Democracy in Food System Spaces: organizing tools for combating white supremacist activities at farmers markets and other public places” at OSU’s Small Farms Conference in 2020: check out the slides and handouts.
More Resources And Readings
Included in this list are articles, reports, and tactics that will help recognize and address racism as well as provide tools to help dismantle it.
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US Food System Timeline compiled by Tracy Gagnon, Oregon Food Bank, documents the history exploitation of land and food workers in the U.S. and Oregon and highlights examples of resistance from communities of color.
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“4 Not-So-Easy Ways to Dismantle Racism in the Food System” by Leah Penniman, Yes Magazine.
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Dismantling Anti-Black Bias in Democratic Workplacesis a toolkit from AORTA to equip workplaces with tools to see and address anti-Black racism when it happens and create systems and practices that undermine anti-Black racism.
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Building the Case for Racial Equity in the Food System is a report from Center for Social Inclusion that shares an analysis of what it means to build a racially equitable food system—from field to farm to fork—and lays out steps toward achieving that goal.
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“White Supremacy Culture” is a description of characteristics and norms found in white-dominant organizations and their antidotes. By Tema Okun, Dismantling Racism.
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“The Racist History of Portland, the Whitest City in America” by Alana Semuels, The Atlantic
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A Hidden History: OR Black History Timeline is a timeline of the stories and struggles of Oregon’s African American community. By Walidah Imarisha, Oregon Humanities Conversation Project
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“The Ongoing Impact of Racism on the U.S. Farming Landscape” despite some progress in diversity and racial justice in the US, as a whole, a professor argues that farming remains deeply segregated. By Megan Horst, Civil Eats
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“White People Own 98% of Rural Land. Young Black Farmers Want to Reclaim Their Share” by Tom Phillpott, Mother Jones
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“Black People's Land Was Stolen” and any discussion of reparations must include how this happened, who did it, and the laws, policies and practices that allowed it. By Andrew W. Kahrl, New York Times
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“There Were Nearly a Million Black Farmers in 1920. Why Have They Disappeared?” by Summer Sewell, The Guardian