Anita Adalja Honored as ‘Champion of Change’

Anita Adalja, an Indian American farmer manager, was among 12 individuals from across the country who were recognized as White House Champions of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture at an event in Washington, D.C. Oct. 26.

These individuals were selected by the White House for their achievements and will be honored for their exemplary leadership and innovation in agricultural production and education. The Champions have helped implement agricultural practices that promote soil health and energy efficiency, improve water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Adalja, a manager at the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, has worked to create a more equitable and sustainable food system by increasing food access, sustainable farming, farmer training and ‘farm-to-school’ education. Under her management, Arcadia Farm grows thousands of pounds of naturally grown produce that is sold in low- or no-food access areas in Washington, D.C., through its mobile farmers’ market program. A social worker by training, Adalja has previously farmed at One Woman Farm in Gibsonia, Pa., and was the farm manager for Common Good City Farm in Washington, D.C.

The awards ceremony featured remarks by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and was live-streamed Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. ET. “My commitment to food access, food justice and community building was solidified through this experience. From there, I threw myself into farming by attending an apprenticeship programme at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems in Santa Cruz. I haven’t looked back since,” she said in a United States Department of Agriculture blog recently.

The Champions have helped implement agricultural practices that promote soil health and energy efficiency, improve water quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Anita, has worked to create a more equitable and sustainable food system by increasing food access, sustainable farming, farmer training and farm-to-school education.

Under her management, Arcadia Farm grows thousands of pounds of naturally grown produce that is sold in low-or no-food access areas in Washington, through its mobile farmers’ market program. A social worker by training, Adalja has previously farmed at One Woman Farm in Gibsonia, Pa, and was the farm manager for Common Good City Farm in Washington.