The Society Of Saint Andrew Inc

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION APPROVES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 TO THE SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREW (SOSA) NORTH CAROLINA TO DEVELOP, PRODUCE, AND MAKE AVAILABLE A PUBLIC SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS DESCRIBING THE GLEANING PROCESS FOR SPECIALTY CROPS COMMONLY GROWN ACROSS REGION 4 (R4) AND MULTIPLE PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS WILL ENHANCE VOLUNTEER KNOWLEDGE AND COMPLIANCE AND RESULT IN INCREASED FIELD GLEANING ACROSS, GREATER FARM-LEVEL FOOD RECOVERY, AND MORE RESCUED PRODUCE AVAILABILITY FOR THE FOOD INSECURE IN R4 AND NATIONALLY.ACTIVITIES:THESE PROFESSIONALLY FILMED AND EDITED VIDEOS WILL UTILIZE AN INTERVIEW FORMAT, BETWEEN A SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREW STAFFER AND A FARMER CURRENTLY ALLOWING GLEANING FROM THEIR FIELDS. THE FARMER WILL DEMONSTRATE THE GLEANING PROCESS, EXPLAINING HOW TO HARVEST THE FRUIT OR VEGETABLE AS WELL AS HOW TO RESPECT THE FIELD AND PLANTS AND MAINTAIN FOOD SAFETY. SOSA WILL USE THESE VIDEOS AS PART OF PRE-GLEANING TRAINING AND ORIENTATION FOR VOLUNTEER GLEANERS AND WILL MAKE THESE VIDEOS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR THE USE OF OTHER GLEANING ORGANIZATIONS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) RECOMMENDS FIELD GLEANING TO REDUCE FARM-LEVEL FOOD LOSS BY TAKING EXCESS FOOD FROM FIELDS AND FEEDING POOR PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH FARMER BUY-IN AND PARTICIPATION IS STILL AN ISSUE. FARMERS ARE RIGHTLY CONCERNED WITH PRESERVING THEIR INTERESTS, FROM GAP CERTIFICATION AND FSMA REGULATIONS TO LAND, EQUIPMENT, AND PLANTS. THE SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREW HAS SHOWN FOR DECADES THAT CREATING TRUST WITH FARMERS BY STUDYING THEIR VALUES AND NEEDS INCREASES FARMER BUY-IN FOR VOLUNTEER FIELD GLEANING. BY CREATING THIS SERIES OF FARMER-LED INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS FOR SOSA AND SHARING THEM WITH OTHER GLEANING ORGANIZATIONS, WE CAN SHOW UNCERTAIN OR NEW FARMERS THAT FARMERS BUY IN AND ENSURE THAT SOSA VOLUNTEERS AND OTHERS UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THEY TAKE ON BY ENTERING FARMERS' FIELDS. THESE VIDEOS WILL IMPROVE VOLUNTEER KNOWLEDGE AND COMPLIANCE AND REASSURE FARMERS THAT GLEANING GROUPS WILL PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS, RESULTING IN INCREASED FIELD GLEANING ACROSS EPA REGION 4 AND THE US, FARM-LEVEL FOOD RECOVERY, AND MORE RESCUED PRODUCE FOR FOOD-INSECURE FAMILIES FOR YEARS TO COME. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE FARMERS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE IN R4 AND NATIONALLY.

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 TO SOCIETY OF SAINT ANDREW FOR A PILOT PROJECT TO REDUCE SURPLUS FARM FOOD LOSS IN,BY GATHERING FIELD ON-FARM SAMPLING DATA AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM TO APPLY TO AN INTERACTIVE MAP OF TENESSEE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ON FARM SURPLUS FOOD LOSS THAT WILL ENABLE ASSISTANCE AND PILOT STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THESE LOSSES.