Green City Growers presented Boston Mayor Michelle Wu with the first annual Gus Schumacher Award for Advocacy of Agriculture, Farming, and Food System Education.
The award celebrates the legendary and beloved Gus Schumacher and his lifelong commitment to making both Massachusetts and the nation greener, more plant-centered, and supportive of farming, of farmers, of food and families––and of fresh fruit and vegetables. Gus Schumacher’s early and enduring advocacy of farmers––immigrant, home grown, beginning farmers is a direct line to the ethos that launched innovative farming solutions like Green City Growers.
Green City Growers CEO Christopher Grallert presented the award to Mayor Wu. Grow Boston Director Shani Fletcher accepted the award on Mayor Wu’s behalf. Explaining the significance of the award, Grallert comments, “Gus Schumacher embodied all the values that the Urban Gardeners of Green City Growers and others hold dear.Gus was one of those rare individuals that could make so much happen at so many levels. He was a man of the people, and also an incredible influencer in circles at the highest level. Through this award, we can carry on and celebrate his legacy,” Grallert continues. “They don’t make guys like Gus anymore. We need more champions like him. A visionary and a person of action.”
Green City Growers was thrilled that Susan Holaday Schumacher, Schumacher’s wife of over 30 years, attended the inaugural event and spoke about Gus Schumacher’s legacy. “Gus would have been so pleased by this award. I’m delighted that years after his passing his imprint on food and agriculture is still honored, she said, as she spoke on Gus Schumacher’s behalf.
Green City Growers presented this award to Mayor Wu in recognition of her and her team’s support for gardens and farms in the Boston Public Schools and elsewhere in the city of Boston. Under her tenure and with her enthusiastic support, thousands of Boston Public School students at 50+ schools can learn life lessons about the food system, the joy of growing edible things, and stewardship of our environment.
August (Gus) Schumacher Jr.
Both a local and national figure in the world of agriculture and equity for farming families, Gus Schumacher passed away too early in 2017. His legacy continues through the programs he began as Commissioner of Agriculture in Massachusetts, and an Undersecretary at the USDA during the Clinton administration. Following his departure from the USDA, he went on to found the non-profit Wholesome Wave Foundation with chef-activist Michel Nischan and create programs that bolstered farmer’s markets, immigrant farming families and healthy eating. In 2008, Gus was selected for the 20th Anniversary Food Arts award for outstanding service to the
American food and farming system. In 2013 Schumacher received a Leadership Award from the James Beard Foundation. His passing was a huge loss.