The purpose of this agreement is the michigan department of education's local food purchase assistance project is to create and expand community partnerships between existing agencies,…

The purpose of this agreement is the michigan department of education's local food purchase assistance project is to create and expand community partnerships between existing agencies, organizations, and their local and regional disadvantaged farmers and producers. Planned activities include partnerships connecting farmers, producers, and their products to healthcare organizations, tribal organizations, regional food collectives, mobile pantry programs, fresh produce box programs, food hubs, and allowed processing facilities. The subrecipient agencies have plans to purchase food from local and socially disadvantaged farmers and producers in their geographical area and have developed distribution efforts to support their local underserved communities. Targeted farmers/producers will include "socially disadvantaged groups" whose members have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and, where applicable, SEX, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. The eight subagencies cover 50 counties in three distinct regions of michigan that represent clients from a population of 5 million michigan area residents, regions that account for over 50% of michigan tefap households and include eight michigan tribal organizations. Michigan department of education's expects subagencies to partner with over 170 farmers/producers and deliver food to over 1,000 ,000 recipients across seven regions in michigan over the two years. Quarterly performance reports will be submitted to capture the number of producers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, distribution sites, and underserved locations as well as funds expended for each category. Annual reports will provide percentages of new marketing opportunities and purchases distributed beyond current food distribution networks. Michigan department of education's has included michigan state university's college of agriculture and natural resources as an local food purchase assistance project partner to conduct direct evaluation activities such as a surveys, interviews, and/or focus groups with farmers and producers engaged in the project through current and potential sub award partners, analysis, and by sharing results through a written reports. The food bank council of michigan - support socially d isadvantaged farmers/producers and underserved areas in northern michigan. Kalamazoo valley community college support socially disadvantaged farmers and producers and underserved areas in southwest michigan. Michigan state university's college of agriculture and natural resources conduct evaluation activities with farmers and producers engaged in the project through current and potential sub award partners. Eastern market: the eastern market will partner with oakland avenue urban farm to support local and socially disadvantaged farmers and producers to provide 90,000 fresh produce boxes in detroit and the detroit metro area over the first two years, covering underserved communities in three counties. Flint fresh: flint fresh will provide 31 ,200 weekly "veggie boxes" to underserved communities in flint and surrounding genesee county over the initial two years. Mid-michigan community action: mid-michigan community action has proposed a community- supported agriculture food share program to establish partnerships between targeted local farmers and producers and local food pantries. The thumb food policy council will provide fresh produce through a mobile distribution program in michigan's northeast counties. West michigan food processing association: this project will directly connect grant-targeted farmers and producers with local food agencies, including meals on wheels, other senior meal programs, programs for underserved children, and other community organizations providing meals or food for home use. In fiscal year 2023, agreement was amended with local food purchase assistance plus funding to increase the budget with funds authorized by the commodity credit corporation, and to increase the duration of the period of performance. As a result of the additional funding and extended period of performance, the recipient intends to partner with several subawards to expend $11,457,815 toward the purchase of locally produced foods.