Fighting for Farming Justice: Diversity, Food Access and the USDA

This book discusses four class-action discrimination cases settled by the USDA and their impact on farmers from diverse backgrounds. It highlights the limited access to successful farming for people of color and the need for change in USDA support. The book connects these settlements to urban farming, community gardens, farmers markets, organic farming, and food justice issues. It is of interest to scholars in food justice, agricultural economics, civil rights law, and ethics studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into four class-action discrimination cases recently settled within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), shedding light on the historical barriers that have limited access to successful farming to white men and/or families. Through in-depth analysis, the author highlights the similarities between these settlements and the growing attention to urban farming, community gardens, farmers markets, organic farming, and the slow food movement. The book also explores the broader issues of food justice and access to food, drawing connections between these settlements and the broader social and political landscape. With its focus on current farming culture, Fighting for Farming Justice appeals to scholars of food justice, agricultural economics, civil rights law, and ethics studies. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the challenges faced by farmers from diverse backgrounds and the efforts to promote fair and equitable opportunities in the agricultural sector.

Introduction:
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a long history of discrimination against farmers from diverse backgrounds, including African American, Native American, Woman, and Latino(a) farmers. These farmers have faced numerous challenges, including limited access to resources, credit, and land, as well as discrimination in the lending and insurance processes. In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement to address these issues and promote fair and equitable opportunities in farming.
Class-Action Discrimination Settlements:
To address these issues, the USDA has settled four class-action discrimination cases. These settlements have led to a significant change in the way in which the USDA supports farmers from diverse backgrounds. The first settlement, known as the Pigford v. Glickman case, involved African American farmers who claimed that the USDA had discriminated against them in the lending and insurance processes. The settlement resulted in a $1.2 billion payout to the farmers and a change in the way in which the USDA supports African American farmers.
The second settlement, known as the Keepseagle v. Vilsack case, involved Native American farmers who claimed that the USDA had discriminated against them in the lending and insurance processes. The settlement resulted in a $465 million payout to the farmers and a change in the way in which the USDA supports Native American farmers.
The third settlement, known as the Love v. Veneman case, involved Woman farmers who claimed that the USDA had discriminated against them in the lending and insurance processes. The settlement resulted in a $1 billion payout to the farmers and a change in the way in which the USDA supports Woman farmers.
The fourth settlement, known as the Garcia v. Whitaker case, involved Latino(a) farmers who claimed that the USDA had discriminated against them in the lending and insurance processes. The settlement resulted in a $50 million payout to the farmers and a change in the way in which the USDA supports Latino(a) farmers.
Implications of the Settlements:
The implications of these settlements are significant. They shed light on why access to successful farming has been so often limited to white men and/or families and have led to a change in the way to support farmers from diverse backgrounds. The settlements have also highlighted the need for more attention to be paid to the issues of food justice and access to food.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book provides a detailed discussion of four class-action discrimination cases that have recently been settled within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and have led to a change in the way in which the USDA supports farmers from diverse backgrounds. These settlements shed light on why access to successful farming has been so often limited to white men and/or families and have led to a change in the way to support farmers from diverse backgrounds. The implications of these settlements are significant and highlight the need for more attention to be paid to the issues of food justice and access to food. This book is a valuable resource for scholars of food justice, agricultural economics, civil rights.

Weight: 235g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367682859