Project Grant 20183380028410

IN A STATE LIKE NORTH CAROLINA - THE 8TH LARGEST AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER IN THE COUNTRY - IT SHOULDN'T BE HARD FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. YET FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, PROCESSED FOOD REMAINS THE ONLY CONSISTENTLY AFFORDABLE CHOICE, AND AS A RESULT, MANY OF NORTH CAROLINA'S LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH INCIDENCE OF OBESITY, DIABETES, AND OTHER DIET-RELATED DISEASES (NC ALLIANCEFOR HEALTH 2014). IN THE TRIANGLE AREA OF NORTH CAROLINA, ABOUT 30% OF DURHAM COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS LIVE IN WHAT THE USDA CLASSIFIES AS A FOOD DESERT - AN AREA WITHOUT ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THE COMMUNITY FOOD SHARE PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS DISCONNECT AND BUILD THE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY OF SEVERAL DEMOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSECOMMUNITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE TRIANGLE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WHOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS' HAVE EXPRESSED DESIRE FOR ACCESS TO HEALTHY, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE, AND AFFORDABLE FOOD, IN ADDITIONTO FORGINGLINKAGES TO THE LAND AND LOCAL FARMS.TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS, THE CFS PROJECT PROPOSES USING VARIATIONS ON A COLLECTIVE BUYING MODEL DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SOURCE THE FRESH FOODS THEY WANT IN WAYS THAT WORK FOR THEM, WITH FARMER FOODSHARE PROVIDING THE AGGREGATION AND DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN FARMS AND URBAN COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT ALSO INVOLVES CREATING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEARN TO GROW OR COOK FOOD AND BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO ENGAGE THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, BUILDING SELF-RELIANCE. CFS METHODS AND SERVICES ARE DEMOCRATICALLY DEVELOPED, GIVING VOICE AND INFLUENCE TO PRIMARILY LOW-INCOME PARTICIPANTS IN NAMING HOW BEST TO OFFER THEIR COMMUNITIES ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. THE CFS PROJECT SEELS TO CREATE AREPLICABLE MODEL FOR EQUITABLE, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN FOOD ACCESS AND EDUCATION THAT BENEFITS FARMERS AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND CAN LAST BEYOND THE PERIOD OF THE GRANT.