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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded a $765,347 Cooperative Agreement (CFDA 10.182: Pandemic Relief Activities: Local Food Purchase Agreements) to the Native Village of Fort Yukon, a federally recognized tribal government organization in Alaska. The purpose of this three-year agreement is to purchase and distribute unprocessed, healthy foods from local and regional farmers and ranchers, with a focus on socially disadvantaged producers, to 205 food-insecure households in Fort Yukon. The project aims to create economic opportunities for local producers while increasing access to nutritious foods and reducing food insecurity in the community. Key deliverables include establishing purchase agreements with a minimum of 2 local/regional farmers and producers, distributing the purchased foods to the targeted households, and sharing lessons learned with other tribes in the region through education and outreach activities.

The fort yukon healthy foods distribution program will purchase and distribute healthy, unprocessed foods from local/regional ranchers and farmers to distribute to tribal households in fort yukon, AK, meeting the nutrition needs of the local population. The tribe will enter into purchase agreements with local farms, ranches, and other food suppliers at the local and regional level, establish a supply chain to ship the food, and distribute these foods locally. This project will provide economic opportunities for local and regional producers while alleviating food insecurity for residents in fort yukon who face exorbitantly high food prices, unavailability of healthy foods, and fishing restrictions. This project will result in reduction of food insecurity and increased access to nutritious foods leading to healthy outcomes for beneficiaries. Establish purchase agreements with a minimum of 2 local and/or regional farmers and producers. Distribute purchased food to 205 households in need of food. Share lessons learned from this project with other tribes in the yukon flats regions through education and outreach activities. 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 fort yukon healthy foods distribution program intends to purchase from a minimum of 2 local/or regional farmers and producers. A priority will be made to establish purchase agreements from socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. These foods will be distributed to an estimated 205 households who are experiencing food insecurity in fort yukon. The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.