Community Farmers Markets Inc

COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKETS (CFM) IS A FARMERS MARKET UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION IN ATLANTA,GA,THAT DEVELOPS LOCAL FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY IMPACT. THROUGH OUR PROJECT,"AVAILABILITY,AWARENESS,AND AFFORDABILITY: REMOVING BARRIERS TO LOCAL FOOD ACCESS IN ATLANTA," CFM TACKLES THREE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO FOOD ACCESS - AVAILABILITY,AWARENESS,AND AFFORDABILITY -- THROUGH A HOLISTIC,FOUR-PRONGED APPROACH TO GROWING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS. THE FOUR PRONGS: LOCAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION (FARMERS MARKETS,PUBLIC TRANSIT MARKETS,THE CROP CYCLE,THE GENERAL STORE,AND POP-UPS),COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING,VENDOR SUPPORT,AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (SNAP MATCH AND VARIOUS INCENTIVES DETAILED BELOW) GROW THE VIABILITY OF EXISTING MARKETS AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR FURTHER ESTABLISHMENT AND EXPANSION OF LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS. OUR PROJECT WILL EXPAND DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES VIA BOTH TRADITIONAL FARMERS MARKETS AND INNOVATIVE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS; INCREASECONSUMER AWARENESS,ATTENDANCE,PURCHASING,AND KNOWLEDGE VIA MARKETING EFFORTS,CONSUMER EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH; ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY FOR VENDORS BY REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS VIA DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORTS AND FOR CONSUMERS THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS; AND DEVELOP LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM ECOSYSTEM THROUGH VENDOR SUPPORT PROGRAMS,MARKET MANAGEMENT SUPPORT,AND CONSULTING SERVICES. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS,CFM SERVES HUNDREDS OF LOCAL FARMERS AND RANCHERS,THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS IN METRO ATLANTA,AND PROVIDES SUSTAINABLE LIVING WAGE CAREERS. WE WILL LEVERAGE OUR UNIQUE POSITION AS A LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS HUB TO SHARE LESSONS LEARNED THAT WILL PROMOTE THRIVING,HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO FARMERS MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND STATEWIDE VENDOR SUPPORT.

EXPANDING THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY IN ATLA

ATLANTA FACES A GROWING CHALLENGE OF FOOD INSECURITY, WITH TOO MANY FAMILIES LACKING CONSISTENT ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD. AT THE SAME TIME, SMALL AND MID-SIZED FARMERS IN THE REGION STRUGGLE TO COMPETE IN A FOOD SYSTEM DOMINATED BY LARGE DISTRIBUTORS. THIS DISCONNECT HARMS BOTH COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL AGRICULTURE: FAMILIES MISS OUT ON NUTRITIOUS MEALS, AND FARMERS LOSE OUT ON VITAL INCOME. STRENGTHENING THE LINK BETWEEN LOCAL FARMS AND COMMUNITY FOOD ACCESS IS NOT JUST AN AGRICULTURAL ISSUE--IT IS CENTRAL TO BUILDING A HEALTHIER ECONOMY, REDUCING WASTE, AND CREATING MORE RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOODS.THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE PROBLEM BY EXPANDING A PROVEN MODEL OF AGGREGATED POP-UP MARKETS THAT BRING LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE DIRECTLY INTO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE HEALTHY FOOD IS SCARCE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PROJECT PROVIDES TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AND FOOD ENTREPRENEURS SO THEY CAN STRENGTHEN THEIR BUSINESSES AND REACH MORE CUSTOMERS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS COOKING CLASSES, SCHOOL-BASED NUTRITION LESSONS, AND RECIPE DEMONSTRATIONS WILL HELP FAMILIES MAKE THE MOST OF FRESH PRODUCE WHILE ENCOURAGING HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES.BY CONNECTING FARMS AND COMMUNITIES IN THIS WAY, THE PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD, REDUCE WASTE FROM UNSOLD FARM PRODUCE, AND BOOST THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF LOCAL FARMERS. THE LONG-TERM BENEFIT WILL BE A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT IMPROVES HEALTH, CREATES JOBS, AND HELPS ENSURE THAT ATLANTA COMMUNITIES--PARTICULARLY THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY FOOD INSECURITY--HAVE THE NOURISHMENT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY IN FARMERS MARK

BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY IN FARMERS' MARK

TRANSFORMING FOOD DESERTS INTO FOOD OASES THROUGH INTEGRATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

BUY LOCAL FLORIDA

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.