ACCD Helps Showcase Local Projects During PA's Urban Agriculture Week
ACCD helped highlight some of the county’s compelling urban agriculture projects on July 14, 2026, with a visit from Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Agriculture, Russell C. Redding. PA Urban Agriculture Week is a statewide initiative led by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to celebrate and promote urban farming.
Secretary Redding, along with local leadership, toured Soil Sisters Plant Nursery, Hilltop Urban Farm, Mayfly Market, and Oasis Urban Farm.
Photo: Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding celebrates Urban Ag Week with TaRay and Raynise Kelly from Soil Sisters Plant Nursery alongside Secretary of Labor and Industry Nancy Walker.
The week highlights grassroots projects that tackle food insecurity, eliminate socioeconomic barriers, and transform underutilized city spaces into resilient hubs of nourishment.
“Urban Ag contributes positively to social and economic outcomes such as property values and food access––13% of people in Allegheny County currently experience food insecurity,” says Heather Manzo, ACCD Executive Director. “Soil health is a foundational aspect of all types of agriculture, and in the Rust Belt, lead contaminated soil is a common issue that ACCD works with growers to address. This year’s tour showcased those efforts, featuring two sites participating in ACCD’s Urban Soil Health Remediation Program.”
“We’re lucky to live and work in a state that understands the tremendous positive impacts of urban farming and makes regular efforts to shine a light on the efforts of our talented growers,” says Karlin Lamberto, ACCD Deputy Director.
Photo: Raynise Kelly showcases Soil Sisters Plant Nursery, a business helping gardeners and growers cultivate healthier communities.
In addition to providing continued education, technical assistance, and connection for urban farmers, ACCD’s investment in urban agriculture includes:
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Awarding Urban Grower Success Micro-Grants to 36 growers in 2026.
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Funding and stewarding six Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program projects to improve water quality through critical infrastructure projects, with two of these projects scheduled for completion this fall.
- Improving soil health and reducing lead exposure risks at three urban farms through remediation projects with statistically significant results.
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Photos: Ezra Jones Photography
ABOUT ACCD
Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) is the trusted soil and water conservation partner in Allegheny County. As part of a national regulatory network tasked with the mission to protect, restore and preserve our natural resources, ACCD’s work focuses specifically on the keystones of our environment – soil and water. ACCD leads robust programs designed for urban and rural agriculture; facilitates professional workshops and trainings; provides access to funding; educates professionals, public representatives and the general public; and acts as the state permitting authority for four PA clean water laws.