Grown in Ivanhoe

The Grown in Ivanhoe Project is an initiative to address the food insecurity issues in the Ivanhoe and surrounding neighborhood communities of Kansas City, Missouri. Through a combination of education, infrastructure development, experiential learning and systematic environmental changes, the Grown in Ivanhoe project helps to empower many of the residents to grow and sell their own healthy food by creating an equitable and sustainable food system in the urban core.

Grown in Ivanhoe strives to achieve a just and equitable food environment in the Ivanhoe community by ensuring that residents have the information and resources needed to provide healthy, affordable foods for themselves and their families.

Grown in Ivanhoe has increased local food production and established resources for access to healthy foods.

Between 2010 and 2012, the Grown in Ivanhoe Project achieved many accomplishments, including the creation of the first Ivanhoe Small Growers Farmers Market, a Farm Stand Network, and two micro-agri businesses. During the program, 10% of the Ivanhoe neighborhood population received free and/or low cost pesticide free produce.

Following the program, there is an increase in food production in the neighborhood by residents who are growing food in residential or shared-space gardens. More than three acres of land in the urban core of Ivanhoe were converted from vacant lots or green space to gardens. The culture and reputation of growing food has been established. And the Grown in Ivanhoe "brand" and identity has been recognized locally and nationally.

The Grown in Ivanhoe Projected is funded by a generous grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.