About Urban Acres Produce
Growing healthy food, cultivating community, and transforming Wilmington’s Eastside.
Every Community Deserves to Thrive
Every community deserves access to fresh food, safe green spaces, and opportunities to grow together. Urban Acres was created to help make that vision a reality on Wilmington’s Eastside.
Urban Acres is an urban agriculture and neighborhood revitalization initiative of Central Baptist Community Development Corporation (CBCDC). Since its beginning, Urban Acres has worked to increase access to fresh, healthy food while creating opportunities for education, environmental stewardship, and community connection.
From Produce Stand to Community Movement
Urban Acres Produce was founded by Mike Minor, who sold fresh fruits and vegetables outside Central Baptist Church each weekend. The produce stand quickly became a trusted community resource, providing affordable, healthy food while creating opportunities for neighbors to connect and build relationships.
As demand grew, so did the program. Through a partnership with ChristianaCare, Urban Acres expanded beyond the church by bringing produce stands directly to hospitals and medical offices throughout Wilmington. By meeting people where they were receiving care, Urban Acres helped improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables and supported healthier lifestyles for patients and community members alike.
Recognizing the need for a permanent community space, CBCDC transformed four vacant, overgrown lots on Church Street into the Church Street Community Garden in 2016. The garden features 26 raised beds and was created to do more than grow food. It transformed blighted land into a vibrant community gathering space where residents could garden, volunteer, learn sustainable practices, and strengthen neighborhood connections.
Urban Acres continued to evolve as community needs changed. Through its partnership with ChristianaCare, the organization participated in the Prescription Produce initiative, connecting patients with fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a healthier lifestyle. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Urban Acres adapted once again by shifting to produce delivery, ensuring families continued to have access to healthy food during a critical time.
Today, Urban Acres continues to cultivate healthier communities through community gardening, fresh food distribution, educational workshops, cooking demonstrations, volunteer engagement, and environmental stewardship. The Church Street Community Garden is recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat and features native plants that support pollinators and biodiversity while serving as a welcoming green space for the Eastside community.
As Urban Acres looks toward the future, the organization is working to establish a neighborhood storefront that will expand access to fresh produce, educational programming, and community resources, continuing its commitment to building a healthier, stronger Eastside.
