New Roots: The food is local. The story is global.
As an essential part of our broader resettlement efforts by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City, the New Roots program enables refugees to celebrate their heritage and nourish themselves and their neighbors by planting strong roots—literally—in their new communities.
New Roots is about healthy families, secure communities and a more sustainable future. It’s about dignity, determination and the boundless possibility of human connection. And it’s about the power of people to heal and nurture positive change from the ground up.
In 25 U.S. cities, the IRC provides resettled refugees with the assistance they need to survive and thrive. Through New Roots and a range of other programs, we are helping them to establish a strong future for themselves, their communities and our world.
The three focuses of New Roots in Salt Lake City are...
Community Gardening
The Community Gardening Program secures plots for refugee families at community gardens throughout Salt Lake City and collaborates with partners such as Wasatch Community Gardens, Promise South Salt Lake, the City of Millcreek, Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, and Salt Lake County to develop new gardens in high-need areas. New Roots provides seeds, seedlings, and instruction on best gardening practices in Utah to ensure participating gardeners have the best chance to enjoy an abundance of produce through the growing season. The vegetables grown in these gardens help provide supplemental food for participants that is nutritious and easily accessible. New Roots brings gardeners together to share their agricultural skills and connect with their new home and community. Currently, the Community Gardening Program is working with over 120 families in 11 garden sites across the Salt Lake Valley.
If you would like to learn more about the Community Gardening Program, please contact community garden program coordinator, Sarah Adams, at [email protected]. You can also learn more about the Community Garden Program and apply to be a participant for the current year here.
Micro-Training Farm Program
With two farm sites leased through Salt Lake County—Redwood Road, a two-acre farm site in West Valley City, and Wheadon, a 13-acre farm site in Draper—New Roots provides refugee farmers with the opportunity to grow and market a variety of crops. Through direct sales of produce to consumers, the farmers are able to achieve greater economic independence by earning supplemental income for their families. The Redwood Road Micro-Training Farm provides large plots of land for farmers to cultivate, building their capacity to earn additional income. New Roots' most advanced farmers are moving to Wheadon Farm, where they are working to expand into new markets. Between the Redwood Road Farm and Wheadon Farms, over 36 farmers -- from countries like Sudan, Burma, Bhutan, Chad, Somalia, and Burundi -- participate in training and technical assistance throughout the year.
You can enjoy produce grown by New Roots farmers at the New Roots Farmers Markets from June through October on Saturdays at the Sunnyvale Farmers Market and Wednesday afternoons at the Redwood Farm and IRC office.
Food Access: Farmers Markets
New Roots operates three farmers markets in Salt Lake County, which are an affordable fresh food resource for residents in areas with low food access. The multi-vendor market specializes in specialty crops, common in countries around the world, but difficult to find in the U.S. It also provides New Roots farmers a venue to sell and market their produce. These farmer's markets are open to the public to buy produce grown by New Roots farmers and a great resource for the community for fresh, local food.
Our market dates for 2023:
The Sunnyvale Farmers Market operates every Saturday, 10:30am-1:30pm, from June 17th to October 15th at Sunnyvale Park, 4013 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84123. At the Sunnyvale Farmers Market, you will find local and organically grown produce, a food pantry, and free lunch for kids!
The New Roots Farmers Market at Redwood Farm is on Wednesdays from 4:30pm-7:30pm from June 29th - October 19th at 3005 Lester St., West Valley City.
The New Roots Farmers Marketat IRC will operate every Wednesday, 4:30-7pm, from June 29th to October 19th at 221 South, 400 West, Salt Lake City, 84110.
Both the Redwood Farm and IRC office are CSA pick-up locations. The two Wednesday farm stands will have locally grown, specialty crops from the New Roots farm.
All three farmers markets offer a 1-to-1 incentive match to customers eligible to receive EBT/SNAP. When a customer spends $30 on the market, they receive an additional $30 for free, in the form of tokens that can be spent at the market, for a total of $60 in purchasing power!
Learn more about the farmers markets operated by New Roots and check them out on Instagram!
Support New Roots!
How can I get involved as a volunteer?
- We offer a variety of individual and group volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Contact us at [email protected] for more information about our current volunteer opportunities.
How can I support the work of New Roots?
- Sign up for the 2023 CSA
- Interested in joining a CSA with a cause? New Roots farmers are looking for local businesses to partner with for a workplace CSA. Contact Elise Watt at [email protected] for more information.
- Monetary and in-kind donations are always appreciated. Contact [email protected] for a list of current donation needs.
- Shop at our New Roots Farmers Markets! Market profits go directly back into the hands of refugee farmers.
How can I learn more about New Roots?
Updates from the field:
- Bringing greens to the desert. July 2019. Salt Lake Tribune.
- Refugees using agriculture to resettle in a new home. July 2017. Utah Farm Bureau Federation.
- Boy Scouts build out community garden. June 2017.
- Fruit & Veggie Rx: Doctors prescribe fresh produce. September 2017.
- Seed Money. September 2015. Catalyst Magazine.
- New Roots in Salt Lake City. October 2013. GLP Films Production.
- Urban Gardens Provide Outlet for Cultural Expression for Refugees. August 2012. Deseret News.
- West Valley Farm Giving Refugees Way to Put Down New Roots. July 2012. KSL News.
For more information about New Roots in Salt Lake City, email us at [email protected]