JACKSONVILLE, FL – July 14, 2025 – Representative Wyman Duggan will host a press conference on Friday, July 18th at 11:30 a.m. on the grounds of Eartha’s Farm & Market, 4850 Moncrief Road, Jacksonville, FL 32209. The event will highlight a recently secured legislative appropriation supporting the Clara White Mission’s Food Distribution II Initiative. Joining Rep. Duggan will be Ju’Coby Pittman, President & CEO, and Board Members of the Clara White Mission, and local residents.
“Northwest Jacksonville has long faced disparities in food access and health outcomes. The appropriation is more than funding, it’s a lifeline to families in Northwest Jacksonville and a chance for residents to access fresh food and learn skills. With the Food Distribution II initiative, the mission moves beyond feeding to empowering, they are reaching residents in their own neighborhoods through Eartha’s Farm & Market through a Food Distribution Program. With this appropriation, we’re building on the mission’s outstanding legacy, rooted in more than a century of service dating back to the founder, Dr. Eartha M. M. White,” said Rep. Duggan.
Eartha’s Farm & Market is a 10.5-acre urban farm and training center in the historic Moncrief Springs neighborhood. The farm was established by the Clara White Mission to eliminate food deserts, increase access to fresh produce, and offer skills training in agriculture, nutrition, and entrepreneurship. The press conference will feature remarks on how the funding will enhance food distribution capacity and extend educational programs that foster long-term self-sufficiency for Northwest Jacksonville residents. This initiative builds on the farm’s mission to create economic opportunity and health equity in a historically underserved community.
“This appropriation is a game-changer for Northwest Jacksonville, fueling not just a farm, but a movement of community engagement. With this support, Eartha’s Farm & Market can reach deeper into our community, providing fresh food, training, and hope where it’s needed most. We’re planting more than seeds, we’re sowing economic opportunity, health, and dignity for families who deserve a chance to thrive,” said Ju’Coby Pittman, President & CEO, Clara White Mission.
Following the formal remarks, attendees are invited to tour the farm, interact with vendors, sample produce, and hear first-person testimonials. The event underscores the power of state-level collaboration in supporting community-led solutions to food insecurity and economic infusion. Media and residents are encouraged to attend and engage with representatives and program participants firsthand.
About Clara White Mission & Eartha’s Farm & Market: The Clara White Mission, founded in 1904, is Jacksonville’s oldest African American social-service agency in the State of Florida. It provides daily meals, housing to homeless veterans, job training, and now expanded nutrition and agri training services. Eartha’s Farm & Market—named in honor of humanitarian Eartha M. M. White, is part of a modern push toward community-based food solutions.
For more info visit : https://earthasfarmandmarket.org/