Central Texas Food Bank Inc

CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BAYLOR UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN WILL ESTABLISH THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM COUNCIL A STRATEGIC EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL FOOD ECONOMY ACROSS 21 COUNTIES AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO FACILITATE COORDINATED ACTION AMONG FARMERS PROCESSORS RANCHERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE FOOD SYSTEM FOSTERING MULTISECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND MIDTIER VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT. THE COUNCIL WILL OPERATE UNDER A HUBANDSPOKE MODEL CONNECTING LOCAL EFFORTS AND PRIORITIZING REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON ENHANCING MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVING FARM VIABILITY. THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOOD SYSTEM PLANNING TOOLKITS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEASIBILITY STUDIES TO IDENTIFY AND PILOT STRATEGIES FOR BOLSTERING LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD MARKET OUTLETS. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED COORDINATION ACROSS THE FOOD SYSTEM INCREASED SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS AND THE EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD FOR CONSUMERS. THE PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT FARMERS RANCHERS AND FOOD PROCESSORS BY PROVIDING A MECHANISM TO SCALE EXISTING EFFORTS AND COLLABORATIVELY ADDRESS KEY CHALLENGES WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY INCREASING ACCESS TO REGIONAL FOOD PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMERS.