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

The modoc nation bison distribution program will provide protein that will meet the needs of the native american population, and serve elder population feeding programs, schools and organizations that reach underserved communities. This program will expand the selection of local food products, prepare food storage locations, and finally distribute the food products to underserved communities. This program will enable tribal families, and disadvantaged individuals and communities throughout northeast oklahoma to access fresh, nutritional, and culturally relevant foods and products without worry of affordability and accessibility. This program will also create a cultural food working group to incorporate an equity lens into rebuilding the local food system. 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 goal of this program is to increase access to local food and improve supply chain resiliency by building partnerships with local and regional producers, socially disadvantaged farm ERS/producers, and underserved communities. To improve the livelihoods and well-being of disadvantaged producers by improving market access, strengthening producer organizations, paying a better price and providing continuity in the trading relationship. The intent of the program is to target the socially disadvantaged. For the purpose of this program, "socially disadvantaged" is a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. The modoc nation bison distribution program intends to purchase bison meat from the modoc nation bison program. The recipient plans to subaward funds to modoc nation bison program.