Dr. Carrie Rowe, Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education | Pennsylvania Department Of Education
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Education Secretary Carrie Rowe will commence the Shapiro Administration's 2025 Urban Agriculture Tour at Bidwell Training Center in Pittsburgh. The tour aims to highlight a high-tech greenhouse expansion funded by an Agricultural Innovation Grant, providing urban students with training for culinary and horticulture careers.
The weeklong tour will showcase projects supported by various grants, including PA Farm Bill Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants, Agriculture Innovation Grants, and Fresh Food Financing Grants. These initiatives aim to boost economic opportunities and address challenges in expanding fresh food access in urban communities.
Throughout the week, the tour will feature Pennsylvanians working to improve fresh food access in underserved areas while addressing racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic barriers. Stops include Johnstown on Tuesday, Carlisle on Wednesday, Philadelphia on Thursday, and the Lehigh Valley on Friday. Separate advisories will be issued for each day.
The kickoff press conference is scheduled for Monday, July 14 at 1:15 p.m. at Bidwell Training Center's Drew Mathieson Greenhouse in Pittsburgh. Notable attendees include Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe, State Representative Emily Kinkead, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, and Ryan Gott from Bidwell Training Center.
Additional Monday tour stops include Ballfield Farm at 9 a.m., where the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council will lead a tour of an organic neighborhood farm; Blackberry Meadows Farm at 3 p.m., showcasing state investments to improve soil and water quality; and Jerry's Custard at 4:30 p.m., part of PA Preferred and Pennsylvania Tourism's Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail.
RSVPs are requested via email to aginfo@pa.gov.
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