Desert Spoon Food Hub

THE PASO DEL NORTE REGION ENCOMPASSES DONA ANA COUNTY,NEW MEXICO,AND EL PASO COUNTY,TEXAS,DELINEATED BY THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER AND CIUDAD JUAREZ TO THE SOUTH. RESIDENTS IN THE REGION FACE A CONSTELLATION OF CHALLENGES,FROM HIGH RATES OF DIET-RELATED DISEASES TO FOOD INSECURITY. GAPS IN THE REGION'S FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE LEFT MANY PRODUCERS WITHOUT CLEAR LINES TO CONSUMERS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS WHILE,AT THE SAME TIME,CONSUMERS LACK ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOOD. WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF HARDSHIP DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,ONE NOTABLE POSITIVE TO COME FROM THE EXPERIENCE IS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REDISCOVERED THE JOY OF COOKING. CONSUMER SHIFTS AROUND VALUE AND LIFESTYLE HAVE CREATED AN ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL PRODUCERS TO CAPTURE INCREASED MARKET SHARE OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS BY FOCUSING ON IMPROVED REPRESENTATION AND PROMOTION OF LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN THE RETAIL FOOD SECTOR. DESERT SPOON FOOD HUB HAS PROVED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE VEHICLE TO IMPROVE FOOD AVAILABILITY WITHIN THE REGION AND PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF SMALL TO MID-SIZED LOCAL PRODUCERS. THIS PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE ORGANIZATION'S SERVICES TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR PRODUCERS AND LOCAL RETAILERS TO RESPOND TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN CONSUMER DEMAND FOR LOCAL FOODS. THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES WILL INCREASE THE COMPETITIVENESS AND BROADEN THE AVAILABILITY AND MARKET SHARE OF LOCALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN RETAIL MARKETS.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.