Purchase and distribute local food targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

By procuring items primarily from tribal members and tribal businesses, the agriculture department will ensure that distribution boxes will contain locally produced culturally specific foods provided by socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and producers. IT is anticipated that current capacity of tribal businesses offering culturally specific foods can support the needs of this project, however, if capacity is unable to support this project, additional vendors will be sought that are also tribal producers offering culturally specific food items. Progress of funding expended to socially disadvantaged producers will be tracked using a vendor information form and surveys of providers to determine the eligibility of producers to be designated as "socially disadvantaged". Vendors will be provided the opportunity through these information requests to self-attest social disadvantage status. After information is received IT will be easier for distribution staff to determine the total amount and percentage of expenditures utilized to procure items from domestic socially disadvantaged producers within 400 miles of distribution sites. The red lake band of chippewa indians will purchase locally grown and harvested produce, meat, eggs, and culturally specific foods from 100 producers during project period. They will purchase locally grown and harvested produce, meat, eggs, and culturally specific foods from 100 producers during project period. The purchased produces will be distributed locally grown, harvested, and processed produce, meat, eggs, and culturally specific foods to 1850 residents of the red lake indian reservation by delivering food resources to the homes of 300 elders and sending food resources home with 1550 school aged children 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. The red lake band of chippewa indians, agriculture department seeks funding to provide locally sourced traditional foods for distribution to school aged children and elders living in their homes to provide relief for rising food costs. The project seeks to provide access to new market opportunities for local producers by introducing new distribution methods to product end users. The recipient does not plan to subaward funds.