Food Bank Of The Albemarle

NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA IS RICH IN AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES YET MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO ACCESS FRESH NUTRITIOUS FOOD WHILE LOCAL FARMERS FACE CHALLENGES FINDING RELIABLE MARKETS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. DESPITE THE REGION'S AGRICULTURAL CAPACITY LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE COORDINATION AND MARKET CONNECTIONS PREVENT LOCALLY GROWN FOOD FROM CONSISTENTLY REACHING COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST. FOOD BANK OF THE ALBEMARLE'S INTENTIONAL PLANTING INITIATIVE ADDRESSES THIS GAP BY PARTNERING DIRECTLY WITH FARMERS TO GROW FRESH PRODUCE SPECIFICALLY FOR HUNGER-RELIEF EFFORTS. BUILDING ON A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PARTNERSHIP WITH MIZELLE FARM IN BERTIE COUNTY WHICH PRODUCED MORE THAN 440000 POUNDS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN ITS FIRST FULL GROWING SEASON THIS 18-MONTH PLANNING PROJECT WILL EXPLORE HOW THE INITIATIVE CAN EXPAND THROUGHOUT NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SUPPORT FARM BUSINESSES KEEP AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY REDUCE RELIANCE ON DISTANT FOOD SOURCES AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES.THROUGH THIS PROJECT FOOD BANK OF THE ALBEMARLE WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH FARMERS HUNGER-RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND REGIONAL GROWING CAPACITY FOOD NEEDS AND BARRIERS TO EXPANDING LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION. THE PROJECT WILL GATHER INFORMATION THROUGH FARMER ASSESSMENTS COMMUNITY SURVEYS FOCUS GROUPS AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING DISCUSSIONS. PARTICIPATING FARMERS WILL SHARE KNOWLEDGE EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERSIFY CROPS AND HELP IDENTIFY THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE PLANTING PARTNERSHIPS. COMMUNITY FEEDBACK WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES SELECTED REFLECT THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND PREFERENCES OF THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THEM. FINDINGS WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE EXPANSION PLAN PRACTICAL RESOURCES FOR PARTICIPATING FARMERS AND A LONG-TERM FUNDING STRATEGY. ULTIMATELY THE PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE MODEL THAT CONNECTS LOCAL FARMERS WITH RELIABLE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES WHILE INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF FRESH LOCALLY GROWN FOOD FOR HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. BY STRENGTHENING REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND MAKING BETTER USE OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES THE INITIATIVE WILL HELP BUILD A MORE RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT BENEFITS FARMERS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES - ECONOMIC IMPACT INITIATIVE GRANTS

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT IT TO APPROVE FUNDING FOR THE FY23 VISTA SUPPORT GRANT DESCRIBED IN THE APPROVED PROGRAM NARRATIVE AND BUDGET.