By Azeem Ahmed
They’ve been here for centuries. They’ve lived side by side, separate, yet interdependent; two partners whose destinies are tied together forever – the farm and the city.  Neither can survive without the other. Today, the need for farmers and city-dwellers to come together as neighbors is greater than ever.  All across America, citizens are working to strengthen the partnership between producer and consumer – helping the farm and city grow closer together.
Farmer’s markets play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between urban and rural communities. For the past 4 years the Farmer’s Market Authority, the Alabama Farmers Federation, and Cooperative Extension offices across the state have worked hand-in-hand to bring together farms and cities. “We identified small and large growers and worked to create a marketing atmosphere attractive to today’s consumers. “ says Chuck Browne, Extension Coordinator for Lee County, “We’ve expanded our products to include baked foods, shrimp, grains, goat cheese and honey in addition to fruits and vegetables.” With a combination of live music, a festive environment, “carry-out services” and fresh goods, these markets have helped bring the farm and city face-to-face under one roof. In Alabama alone, the number of farmer’s markets has jumped drastically from just seventeen in 1994 to nearly one hundred today.
Farmer’s markets, like many other forms of farm-city interactions, are a win-win situation. They benefit the entire community: local farmers gain direct access to a market without the need for a middleman and consumers can purchase fresh produce and have the opportunity to interact with the growers. These markets also promote nutritional education, environmental awareness, and boost the economy. In addition, since much of the food is locally grown and does not travel far, fossil fuels are saved, and farmers are able to harvest their crops at peak season, preserving freshness and flavor. 
One of the most prominent projects to weave together farms and cities is community-supported agriculture, or C.S.A. This new socio-economic system involves consumers purchasing advanced shares in a farmer’s annual production. These crops are usually picked up on a weekly basis from communal distribution points. CSA is becoming increasingly popular as more cities move into farmland. The program serves as a great solution for farmers struggling to keep their land and city-dwellers seeking fresh, great-tasting, nutritious produce. In theory, CSA members become active participants in local farming, by providing up-front cash to finance seasonal expenses, sharing in the risks and rewards of the growing conditions, and taking part in the distribution system. In some cases, members are required to contribute a certain amount of labor as a form of a cooperative venture. “With community-supported agriculture, farmers and their urban/suburban neighbors come face-to-face all the time,” says Franklin Randle, a local CSA farmer. “It promotes so much understanding and builds a sense of family – people no longer feel like strangers.”
Despite their interdependence, a lack of understanding often prevails between farm and city folk. Like farmer’s markets and community-supported agriculture, education is another avenue to bringing them closer together. Agriculture in the Classroom USA is a grassroots movement founded in 1981 by the United States Department of Agriculture. This flexible program is designed to meet the needs of individual states and serves as a supplement to enhance teaching material. In recent years, Agriculture in the Classroom has become a primary source of information, providing a vital link between farm and city youth. Through a variety of hands-on activities, fieldtrips and multi-media presentations, students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society.
It is vital to develop understanding and appreciation between people on either side of the imaginary boundary separating town from country. Whether it’s CSA, farmer’s markets, or Agriculture in the Classroom, the goal is for today’s farm and city youth – tomorrow’s leaders – to grow closer together.