High Desert Food & Farm Alliance

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** FARMING IS A BUSINESS THAT YIELDS PRODUCTS THAT SUSTAIN LIFE, AND IS IN AND OF ITSELF A WAY OF LIFE. HDFFA STRIVES FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT PROGRAM TO MEET THE HOLISTIC NEEDS OF OUR REGION'S BFRS. OUR PROJECT WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS OSU EXTENSION, OUR REGIONAL DMO VISIT CENTRAL OREGON, COIC, DRC, AND THE NONPROFIT WARM SPRINGS COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM TO STRENGTHEN BUSINESS PRACTICES AND BUILD CONNECTIONS AND RESILIENCE IN OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY. WE WILL BUILD THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT CAPACITY IN THE REGION BY HIRING A FULL-TIME AGRICULTURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANT WHO WILL PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 80 PRODUCERS. WE WILL BUILD COHORT LEARNING GROUPS FOR BFRS TO LEARN BUSINESS STRENGTHENING SKILLS WHILE REDUCING FEELINGS OF ISOLATION. WE WILL PROMOTE AND SUPPORT GREATER ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION AT 30 BFRS AGRITOURISM LOCATIONS AND ANNUALLY REACH 35,000+ VISITORS THROUGH A PRINT AND ONLINE HIGH DESERT FOOD TRAIL BROCHURE. WE WILL IMPROVE 60 BFRS' ABILITY TO BE RESILIENT AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY DROUGHT, WILDFIRE AND/OR IRRIGATION DISTRICT WATER REALLOCATION. WE WILL EXPAND SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL BFRS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WARM SPRINGS COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM TO SUPPORT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND IN PARTICULAR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WSCAT'S SHUWIYASHA 2024 BUSINESS PLAN: GROWING COMMUNITY, CONNECTION, FOOD, AND ENTREPRENEURS AT THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS.

CENTRAL OREGON COMPRISES A TRI-COUNTY REGION NEARLY THE GEOGRAPHIC SIZE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IS LOCATED ON A HIGH PLATEAU, WITH IRRIGATED WATER AVAILABLE FROM APRIL - OCTOBER ONLY AND THE THREAT OF FROST ANY TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE REGION IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED FROM THE MAIN MARKET CENTERS OF THE STATE. BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS (BFR) THAT ARE GROWING AND RAISING FOOD FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY ARE PRIMARILY SMALL ACREAGE OPERATIONS, AND THE MAJORITY ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. MANY OF THESE BFRS ARE THREATENED BY SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS AS THE REGION SUFFERS FROM GENTRIFICATION, INCREASED LAND COSTS AND EXCLUSIVE FARM USE ZONES BEING CONVERTED TO HEMP PRODUCTION. AT THE SAME TIME, TOURISTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISCRETIONARY INCOMES OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANDED MARKETS. FARMERS AND RANCHERS NEED TO BE NIMBLE TO STAY PROFITABLE, WHICH MEANS HAVING A DIVERSITY OF ATTRIBUTES (THE ABILITY TO FARM/RANCH, HARVEST, MARKET, DISTRIBUTE, TRANSPORT AND SELL THEIR GOODS TO A RANGE OF MARKETS); YET EACH OF THESE ATTRIBUTES TAKES TIME TO LEARN AND BE SUCCESSFULAT IN A CHANGING MARKETPLACE.THE HIGH DESERT FOOD & FARM ALLIANCE (HDFFA) WILL COLLABORATE WITH OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY STAFF AND REGIONAL AND STATE-WIDE PARTNERS IN OREGON TO IMPROVE AND ENSURE FARM AND RANCH VIABILITY IN CENTRAL OREGON THROUGH TARGETED EDUCATIONAL AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. TOGETHER, WE WILL WILL HELP FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO IMPROVE THEIR PRACTICES AND MARKET DIVERSIFICATION; DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A AGRITOURISM PROJECTS; PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE CENTRAL OREGON VETERANS RANCH TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN A LIVESTOCK PROGRAM WITH A DUAL THERAPEUTIC AND ECONOMIC FOCUS; AND IMPROVE THE UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC POLICIES THAT AFFECT THEIR OPERATIONS. THESE OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING: FACE TO FACE WORKSHOPS AND HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS AT REGIONAL FARMS AND RANCHES,BUTCHERING FACILITIES AND GROCERY STORES; FARMER/RANCHER MENTORING; ON-FARM PASTURE AND GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT FOR VETERANS; AND PUBLISHING OF PRINT AND ONLINE MATERIALS FOR CONSUMER EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE SUCCESS OF REGIONAL FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH SUSTAINABILITY AUGMENTED THROUGH PEER-LEARNING. ALL OF THE PROJECTS WILL BE EVALUATED TO INFORM PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND THE OVERALL SUCCESS AND IMPACT OF THE PROJECT. THE TARGET AUDIENCE IS 250 INDIVIDUALS WITH A DIRECT IMPACT ON 60 BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS. THE PROJECT WILL COLLECTIVELY IMPACT REGIONAL FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND CONSUMERS, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INFORMING REGIONAL AND STATE-WIDE ORGANIZATIONS.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** USING FRESH PRODUCE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF SNAP PARTICIPANTS IN CENTRAL OREGON

GROWING IT FORWARD: IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY IN CENTRAL OREGON THROUGH FOOD ACCESS, NUTRITION INTERVENTION, AND INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION

THE INCREASING FOOD SECURITY IN CENTRAL OREGON PROJECT IS A COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY EFFORT SPEARHEADED BY THE HIGH DESERT FOOD & FARM ALLIANCE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOODS GROWN BY REGIONAL FARMERS IN THE TRI-COUNTY REGION OF CROOK, DESCHUTES AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES AND THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS. BUILDING UPON EXISTING ASSETS AND MULTI-SECTOR RELATIONSHIPS, WE WILL (I) IMPROVE ACCESS TO AND UTILIZATION OF REGIONALLY GROWN FRESH FOOD FOR FOOD INSECURE RESIDENTS BY UNDERSTANDING THEIR NEEDS AND INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY, CONSUMPTION, AND THEIR PROFICIENCY IN PREPARING FOODS THROUGH EDUCATION, A TRIBAL FOOD SOVEREIGNTY ASSESSMENT AND ACTION PLAN, AND RELEVANT FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS; (II) INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL FOODS BY IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION VOLUME AND DIVERSITY OF FOOD FOR DIRECT AND WHOLESALE MARKETS AND THE FOOD BANK FROM REGIONAL PRODUCERS; AND (III) DEEPEN THE KNOWLEDGE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD ACCESS AND FOOD SECURITY TO AND ON BEHALF OF FOOD SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS, SPECIFICALLY TARGETING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS, FARMERS, RANCHERS AND WARM SPRINGS RESIDENTS. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY BY REMOVING BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND FOOD PRODUCTION, PROVIDING EDUCATION ABOUT NUTRITION, MAKING CONNECTIONS TO INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND WORKING WITH MULTI-SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS AND BENEFICIARIES TO ADDRESS SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM ISSUES COLLECTIVELY IDENTIFIED IN OUR REGION. THE PRIMARY GOALS OF HDFFA'S GRANT APPLICATION ARE ALIGNED WITH ALL OF THE CFPCGP'S GOALS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: (1A) MEETS THE FOOD NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS THROUGH CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FRESH FOOD DISTRIBUTION, IMPROVED ACCESS TO AND VOLUME/DIVERSITY OF FRESH FOODS, OUTREACH/EDUCATION ABOUT DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS AND NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAMS - ALL IN COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND BENEFICIARIES; (1B) INCREASES THE SELF-RELIANCE FOR (I) LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS BY EMPOWERING THEM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, PRINTED MATERIALS, AND IN PERSON LEARNING; (II) MARGINALIZED FARMERS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, SEASON EXTENDER AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY GRANTS, AND FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS; AND (III) WORKING WITH MULTI-SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS IN DATA DRIVEN COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF FOOD SECURITY METRICS AND DISSEMINATION OF PROGRAM RESULTS; (1C) PROMOTES COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSES TO LOCAL FOOD ACCESS, FARM, AND NUTRITION ISSUES BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY DRIVEN FOOD SOVEREIGNTY WORK, AND INVESTING IN LONG-TERM STRATEGIES FOR LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES THROUGH MULTI-SECTOR COLLABORATION; (2A) PROVIDES FOR REGION-SPECIFIC NEEDS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE OREGON AND REGIONAL FOOD BANK, HEALTH COUNCIL, FARMERS AND FOOD INSECURE RESIDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE IN EXISTING HDFFA FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS; (2B) PLANS FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS INCLUDING: (I) IDENTIFYING AND WORKING WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS THAT INTEGRATE ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT INTO THEIR EXISTING WORK, (II) THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY COALITION, AND (III) PARTICIPATION IN OUR ANNUAL FOOD AND FARM EVENT THAT ALLOWS FOR BUILT TRUST AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN THE FOOD SYSTEM; AND (2C) INNOVATIVE MARKETING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE FARMER-RUN FILL YOUR PANTRY BULK BUYING EVENT, WHICH WILL INCLUDE MORE OUTREACH TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS AND PROVIDES FOR INCREASED REGIONAL RANCH AND FARM SALES AT THE END OF THE YEAR; AND THROUGH AN ON -ARM COOKING CLASSES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THAT ARE FARMER AND FARM-CHEF LED.