4roots Foundation Inc

INCREASING URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. THE RECIPIENT IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY ISSUES THROUGH THEIR VERY POPULAR “BOOKS AND BITES” NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP WITH USDA/FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS AN OFFICIAL SEAMLESS SUMMER MEALS LOCATION.

DESCRIPTION: THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 TO 4 ROOTS FOUNDATION, INC. THE 4ROOTS SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM NETWORK IS BEING DEVELOPED TO TACKLE SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES OF OUR CURRENT FOOD SYSTEM BY APPOINTING A NETWORK MANAGER TO BUILD A HYPER-CONNECTED NETWORK OF LOCAL FOOD PARTNERS, INCLUDING GROWERS, DISTRIBUTORS, COMPOSTERS, AND MORE. ACTIVITIES: THIS PROJECT WILL FOSTER COLLABORATION THAT GENERATES GREATER ECONOMIC EFFICIENCIES TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE AND IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY. IT WILL ALLOW FOR ESTABLISHING NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS THAT MOVE MORE LOCALLY-GROWN NUTRIENT-DENSE PRODUCE TO BOTH SALES AND DONATION OUTLETS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT MORE LOCAL PRODUCE IS ACTUALLY HARVESTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL CONSUMERS, RATHER THAN GOING TO WASTE IN THE FIELDS OR LANDFILLS. ANY FOOD THAT IS NOT FIT FOR CONSUMPTION WILL BE COMPOSTED TO CREATE RICH NATURAL SOIL AMENDMENTS, WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED BACK TO THE LOCAL FARMERS. OUTCOMES: THIS PROJECT WILL SOLIDIFY AN ECONOMICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE MODEL THAT SUPPORTS A HEALTHY AND RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM - REDUCING FOOD WASTE AND IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY WHILE BENEFITTING GROWERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND CONSUMERS, AND IT WILL ALLOW FOR FUTURE REPLICATION ACROSS THE REGION. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN AND AROUND ATLANTA. SUBRECIPIENT: NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.

CN FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 TO THE 4R FOUNDATION INC. TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS WITH REDIRECTING FARM SURPLUS AND HELPING COMMUNITIES IN GREAT NEED BY PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOOD WASTE. NOTE THAT THE HEADER OF THIS AWARD CAPTIONS IT AS A GRANT AGREEMENT WHEREAS IT IS A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. EPA IS IMPLEMENTING A NEW GRANT SYSTEM THAT WILL SOON BE UNDERGOING ENHANCEMENTS TO ALLOW FOR MORE ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS.