2017 Grant Recipients Collaborate to Make Local Food Accessible

Through our Collaboration Tables convened in 2016, Food Well Alliance learned two things. One, local farmers want to feed the people who most need it in Atlanta, but cannot afford to do so. And two, organizations implementing nutritional programs in low-income communities are looking for easier ways to source healthy food from local farmers.

The 2017 Local Food Grant was designed for farmers seeking infrastructure support to increase sustainable food production and economic viability in order to provide a portion of their local harvest for nearby programs serving low-access neighborhoods. The grant was also intended to help organizations work collaboratively with local farmers to source fresh, nutritious food and improve health in low-income communities.

We are excited to announce our 2017 Local Food Grant Recipients. They are a powerful example of how thoughtful placed-based collaboration can help unite the local food movement to build a healthy food system and ensure that access to sustainably-grown, locally-produced food is equitable in Atlanta.

 
 

Economic Development

Increased productivity and viability of local farming enterprises

Carver's Produce
Food hub and processing facility development for local farmers and food entrepreneurs  in Atlanta’s Historic West End

Freewheel Farm
Increasing production and fertility on backyard farm sites to provide more local food to residents in South Atlanta

Fresh Harvest, Inc.
Refugee-led farm development to source local food for organic produce delivery enterprise in Clarkston

Georgia Organics
Health insurance program to help low-income urban farmers reduce medical costs and in turn, increase their farm’s economic viability in metro Atlanta

Grow with the Flow LLC
Expanding infrastructure for converting homeowner front lawn space into market gardens in Tucker

Nexus Foods
Permaculture farm development for on-site apprentice program for new and beginning farmers in Lawrenceville

Providence Missionary Baptist Church
Neighborhood revitalization through urban farm expansion in Cascade Heights

Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture
Greenhouse installation for increased local food production and education in Collegetown, Southwest Atlanta

 
 

Health & Nutrition

Increased access to fresh, healthy food produced locally

Clayton County Extension 4-H
Mobile market, sourced locally from Lovejoy City Garden, serving low-access neighborhoods in Clayton County

Cobb Health Futures Foundation
Mobile market, sourced locally from Mableton Farmer’s Market and Common Market, serving low-access neighborhoods in Cobb County

Historic Westside Gardens ATL, Inc
Networked backyard gardening with families in Vine City and English Avenue in Southwest Atlanta

Northwest Youth Power
After-school programming with local farmers and food system educators at Rolling Bends apartment complex in Northwest Atlanta

The Good Samaritan Health Center
Integrated “food prescription” nutritional program with local produce sourced from on-site farm for patients at health clinic in Northwest Atlanta

Wylde Center
Resident farmer fellowship to increase local food production for nutritional programming with residents at the Decatur Housing Authority