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

The cherokee nation human services will increase food and nutrition security by equitably providing tribal elders within the reservation with pecans; honey; and lean ground beef, pork and bison. The tribe will initiate contracts with up to 2 pecan farmers to provide 3,500 (two-pound bags) of whole pecan halves twice during the program 1ST and 2ND year totaling 14,200 units. They will also contract with up to 2 honey producers to provide 7,000 one-pound squeezed bottles in each year of the program. The cherokee nation will deliver 11 pounds of meat packages to 5,700 elders each month for 24 months and provide 15,961 pounds of bison during the program. 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 cherokee nation will E nter into a contract with up to two socially disadvantaged honey producers/farmers and two socially disadvantaged pecan farmers. Local, socially-disadvantaged tribal farmers selling beef, pork and bison to cherokee nation 1839 will also have guaranteed revenue that may be used to expand their business. Beef, pork and bison purchased from local, tribal farmers will provide 136,804 food packages to tribal elders with eleven pounds of meat each month for 24 months for a total of 1,504,844 pounds of beef and pork and an additional 15,961 pounds of bison for a total of 1,520,805 pounds of meat during the grant period. The recipient does not intend to subaward funds since they are contracting with producers and farmers.