According to the US Department of Agriculture, low-income areas that don’t have access to affordable and nutritious food are known as food deserts. Bonton, one of the oldest African American communities in Dallas Texas was among 40 food desert communities in Dallas.
The Bonton community, largely made up of single parent households, was subject to racial barriers, disease, juvenile delinquency and drug abuse. Along with these problems the community also lacked access to jobs, safe housing, credit and education.
What began simply as a farm to bring the community some fresh produce slowly evolved into a multi-faceted mechanism that has rejuvenated the community.
Bonton farms, operating under the Dallas Foundation now runs two farms, a café and a Farmer’s Market employing people from the community for its range of activities.
