The project, "increasing access to fresh produce for bering strait tribalcommunities," will bring knowledge about healthy food production, and access to locally grownproduce, to the tribal communities…

The Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Kawerak, Inc. a $525,322 Project Grant under the Community Food Projects (CFP) program. The grant will support Kawerak's "Increasing Access to Fresh Produce for Bering Strait Tribal Communities" project through Aug 31, 2024.

The project aims to: 1) increase production of healthy, fresh vegetables at Pilgrim Hot Springs; 2) develop partnerships and distribution pathways for regional village stores; and 3) provide educational opportunities for low-income residents on local food production, buying locally grown vegetables, gardening basics, and healthy food preparation/consumption. Workshops will also connect traditional subsistence and cultivated foods. Kawerak will lead the project with contributions from Bering Straits Native Corporation, Norton Sound Health Corporation, and Uuaattuq LLC. Activities will take place in Nome, AK and at Pilgrim Hot Springs through stakeholder involvement, community support, and tribal cooperation to increase food access and security in the region.

The project, "increasing access to fresh produce for bering strait tribalcommunities," will bring knowledge about healthy food production, and access to locally grownproduce, to the tribal communities of the bering strait region. This region of alaskarepresents the nome census area, an opportunity zone, where the overall poverty rate IS21.5%.the main goals of this program are to 1) increase the production of healthy, freshvegetables on site at pilgrim hot springs, 2) develop partnerships and pathways to distributionfor regional village stores, and 3) provide an educational opportunity for low-income residentsthat encourages local food production, buying locally-grown vegetables, teaching gardeningbasics, and sharing methods for healthy food preparation & consumption. Workshops will alsoinclude connections between traditional subsistence foods and cultivated foods. This project will be led by kawerak, INC. With contributions from bering straits nativecorporation, norton sound healthcorporation, and unaatuq, LLC. The project activities willtake place in nome, alaska as well as on site at pilgrim hot springs, a 320-acre property innorthwestern alaska recognized by the farm service agency. Through strong stakeholderinvolvement, community support, and tribal cooperation, this project will ensure that ourorganization and partners will implement methods to increase food access and continually seeknew ways to improve food security for the residents of the region.