Project Grows

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPAND DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MARKETS IN THE CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA,WITH EMPHASIS ON EXPANDING MARKET ACCESS FOR SMALL,BEGINNING,AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. TO EXPAND CONSUMER ACCESS,WE ARE FOCUSED ON LAUNCHING A NEW MOBILE MARKET INITIATIVE TO REACH ECONOMICALLY IMPOVERISHED AND TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS,EXPANDING OUR MARKETING AND OUTREACH EFFORTS GENERALLY,MARKETING SNAP AND WIC/SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM (FMNP) BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY,AND INCORPORATING A COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS INITIATIVE TO REACH NONTRADITIONAL AND MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITIES. ON THE PRODUCER SIDE,WE WILL IMPLEMENT A FARMERS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR INCOMING VENDORS AND PARTNER WITH VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION TO ASSIST WITH TRAINING FOR SMALL AND BEGINNER FARMS. FOUNDED IN 2010,PROJECT GROWS IS A COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHILDHOOD WELLNESS,FOOD JUSTICE,AND LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES. OUR BROAD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS UNIQUELY POSITIONS US TO EXPAND DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MARKETS BEYOND THOSE THAT HISTORICALLY SERVE HIGH INCOME CONSUMERS AND LARGE SCALE FARMERS. WE CURRENTLY OPERATE THREE SMALL TRADITIONAL FARMERS MARKETS WITH SIGNIFICANT ROOM TO EXPAND,AS WELL AS A SMALL,SINGLE-SITE PILOT MOBILE MARKET INITIATIVE. THESE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURES SERVE AS A VITAL SPRINGBOARD FOR THIS INITIATIVE. SUBTITLED "MEETING THE NEED: CONNECTING NEW AND GROWING FARMS WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES," THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EXPAND DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MARKETS IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS AND CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION.

GROWING A HEALTHY FOOD SYSTEM IN THE CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM