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USDA Funds Oklahoma Local Foods Project
The USDA’s Community Food Projects program has awarded a
three-year, $300,000 grant to “Cultivating Good Food for
Good Health in Green Country.” This is a new project that
will help to ensure that Oklahomans have convenient access to healthy
and affordable Oklahoma-produced foods.
"The grant allows us to help communities in Oklahoma with
food production, educational opportunities about Oklahoma-produced
foods, and increased access to fresh and healthy foods, all while
stimulating Oklahoma's economy,” said Chad Settle, Oklahoma
Sustainability Network (OSN) Board Member.
The project will help low-income residents obtain nutritious foods
more easily. It will establish new community gardens, where
urban residents can grow their own fresh produce, in low-income
neighborhoods in the Tulsa area. Meanwhile, it will benefit existing
community gardens by improving infrastructure.
Education will be an advantage of community gardens that are planned
for installation on the grounds of some Tulsa-area schools. Other
community gardens will be neighborhood-based gardens, which will
allow citizens to grow their own food.
The project will also expand the use of food stamp benefits at
farmers’ markets, in addition to assisting in the development
of a statewide plan for administering a farmers’ market nutrition
program for seniors and WIC recipients in Oklahoma.
The project also aims to enhance business opportunities for Oklahoma
farmers and producers. It will hold training sessions on
best management practices for local farmers and farmers’ market
managers, in order to increase direct sales of Oklahoma foods to
Oklahoma customers.
The project team will also identify information about successful
state Beginning Farmer Programs and share it with state administrators,
policymakers, and other stakeholders, with the eventual goal of
creating a Beginning Farmer Program in Oklahoma to assist those
just starting their own farming operations.
Additionally, the OSN annual conference will include a session
to facilitate networking between Oklahoma farmers, consumers and
organizations interested in Oklahoma-produced foods.
Oklahoma food will be promoted with an enhanced “Buy Fresh,
Buy Local” campaign. This campaign encourages consumers to
purchase locally produced foods with a promotional campaign and
a local food guide.
The “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” campaign will expand to
at least two other Oklahoma communities following the initial promotion
in Green Country.
“Much of the food produced in Oklahoma is exported out of
the state for consumption by people who live elsewhere. At the
same time, many Oklahomans confront hunger and cannot find convenient
and nutritious food that is reasonably priced,” said Seneca
Scott, OSN Past-President.
“Oklahomans face challenges when trying to buy healthy,
affordable food while Oklahoma-produced food is distributed out
of state. The new program in Green Country aims to address this
situation.”
The project is a partnership of eleven Oklahoma nonprofit organizations
and agencies.
“This would not be possible without all of our grant partners,
and OSN is grateful to each of them for helping us implement the
program,” Settle said.
Key project partners for “Cultivating Good Food for Good
Health in Green Country” are Oklahoma Sustainability Network,
the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Green
Country, North Tulsa EATS, Global Gardens, Tulsa Area Community
Schools Initiative, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma
Department of Human Services, Tulsa City-County Health Department,
Oklahoma Center for Rural Development, and Oklahoma Farmers’ Market
Alliance.
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