2023 Food Award: Nelson Hawkins
Nelson Hawkins (Photo: Jason Elias)
Nelson Hawkins
he/him/his | Sacramento, CA | Co-Founder (We Grow Farms / Ujamaa Farmer Collective)
Nelson Hawkins is transforming possibilities for BIPOC farmers to participate in and improve our country's food system. Based in Sacramento, Nelson founded We Grow Urban Farm in 2018 and has deep expertise in regenerative agricultural methods, community engagement and providing equitable employment opportunities for youth. WeGrow's mission is to grow high quality seasonal vegetables for its local communities and to inspire and empower the next generation of farmers of color. Located in a low-income neighborhood of West Sacramento, the urban farm and farmstand are an oasis of smiles, learning, connection and nutrition. WeGrow practices agro-ecological principles that enhance biodiversity, enrich soil health, protect pollinators, conserve water and strengthen community. Producing over 60 varieties of fruit and vegetables, WeGrow also runs a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Secure land access is the number one-challenge facing beginning farmers, and Black farmers now own only 1% of US farmland. Nelson helped found Ujamaa Farmer Collective: a Black-led, BIPOC-centered, and farmer-driven nonprofit organization focused on addressing land tenure challenges faced by historically underserved farmers. Ujamaa’s work seeks long-term, affordable land access for a diverse community of farmers and ranchers, while facilitating cooperative economics amongst land stewards through sharing costs, inputs, tools, equipment and infrastructure. Nelson was instrumental in the collective recently securing state funding for land acquisition; though a funding gap remains.
Nelson Hawkins (Photo: Jason Elias)
Nelson says growing up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains gave him a deep appreciation and admiration for Mother Earth and served as a refuge from racism and injustices he’s experienced and witnessed. He recognizes his work as “playing an important role in a local regenerative food system that heals the land as we heal ourselves and our relationship with the land.”
For more information about his work, visit www.wegrowfarms.org and www.ujamaafarmercollective.com.
The Maxwell/Hanrahan Awards in Food recognize individuals committed to sustainably growing food, processing and distributing food, educating about nutrition, celebrating cultural traditions, and thriving through delight of food.
