Our Daily Bread

BUTTE COUNTY IS BURDENED BY SOME OF THE HIGHEST FOOD INSECURITY RATES IN THE STATE AND NATION, WITH NEARLY 31,300 RESIDENTS IN THE RURAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COUNTY STRUGGLING WITH BASIC ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD. AT THE SAME TIME, 98 OF THE FOOD PRODUCED IN THE AGRICULTURALLYRICH COUNTY IS SOLD OUT OF THE AREA, ACCORDING TO A 2022 ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY THE BUTTE COUNTY LOCAL FOOD NETWORK. THOUGH LOCAL NEED IS STRONG, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT GAPS CONSTRICTING ACCESS TO LOCALLYPRODUCED FOOD. THE PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO FOOD INSECURE BUTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS, JESUS PROVIDES OUR DAILY BREAD SEEKS TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF ITS SUCCESSFUL HARVESTING HOPE COMMUNITYSUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROGRAM AKA HARVESTING HOPE. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES BUTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH BIWEEKLY LOCAL PRODUCE BOXES, WITH MUCH OF THE PRODUCE CULTIVATED BY INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, THROUGH A HOLISTIC VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMOFFERED BY THE JESUS CENTER. THROUGH THIS NEW EFFORT, HARVESTING HOPE WILL EXPAND INFRASTRUCTURE TO LAUNCH A NEW RETAIL ACCESS POINT FOR DIRECTTO CONSUMERSALES IN A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY, EXPAND EXPERIENTIAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING SERVING BEGINNING, UNDERSERVED, AND SMALL FARMERS AND DRIVE INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF LOCAL PRODUCE THROUGH NEW EDUCATIONAL MARKETING EFFORTS TARGETING FOODINSECURE CONSUMERS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES ARE 30 TRAINED IN SMALL FARM PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND TOTAL ANNUAL SALES BEGINNING IN YEAR 2 OF 90,000, WITH INTENDED BENEFICIARIES THE 1,000 INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS AND 10 FARMS SERVED BY THE NEW RETAIL MARKET ACCESS POINT AND THE 30 TRAINED THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

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.