Visions for Detroit food system improvement: Citizen, activist, and professional perspectives

Food and agriculture projects are receiving attention as a strategy for urban revitalization and redevelopment through local food system improvement. The localization involved there-in can reveal tensions between visions and perspectives held by citizens, activists, and professionals in the areas of economic development, public health, or environmental stewardship. This paper discusses these often-competing visions present in change initiatives in the urban food system of Detroit, Michigan, where a central urban area is left largely under-served by full-service grocery retail. Factors motivating actors to pursue change in their local food system along with the factors mediating that change were gathered in thirteen interviews and four focus groups. Problems with the urban food system, visions for the future, and desired strategies were explored. Data was analyzed inductively. Overall findings reveal concerns for social equity, parity in food environment, and community vitality; and challenges regarding access to information regarding food quality and production, and opportunity for participation. Food system entrepreneurship and participation in the local economy were interpreted as a form of activism toward racial justice. Tensions were revealed between consumer and activist identities, race and environmental values, education and empowerment, and participation and funding as they relate to social change. Most are united behind the vision of making the city a more sovereign leader in sustainability, equality, and economic productivity.