San Francisco
San Francisco from the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo by Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz via Wikimedia Commons

California’s most urban county — San Francisco — is finally getting its own Farm Bureau, the agricultural support organization that has played a key role in the economies of rural counties across the state.

State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who is running for lieutenant governor, announced Tuesday the founding of the San Francisco Farm Bureau, an organization dedicated to nurturing local agriculture and enhancing urban food security education.

The Golden State is the leading agricultural producer in the United States, and the new Farm Bureau comes at a time when urban agriculture enterprises are growing.

With over 100 urban farms and community gardens in San Francisco, the bureau will help promote and advocate for urban agriculture in the city and county, while educating residents and youth on growing food.

“Discovering the absence of a Farm Bureau in San Francisco, where I have lived for over three decades, was a shock,” said Ma. “This initiative will bridge the gap between urban residents and the origins of their food, fostering an appreciation and understanding that is crucial in today’s world.”

The San Francisco Farm Bureau was established following a year of planning and collaboration with local agriculture enthusiasts and has been officially chartered by the California Farm Bureau.

Chris Jennewein is founder and senior editor of Times of San Diego.