Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** greater newark conservancy will…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** greater newark conservancy will partner with clinton hill community action, the urbanagriculture cooperative, rwjbarnabas health, and other community partners to establish twocommunity-based farmer's markets and expand local farm stand operations in the upper clintonhill and springfield/belmont neighborhoods of newark, NJ, two neighborhoods with a largeconcentration of low income residents in need of more options for fresh and healthy food. Thisproject will alleviate current market constraints that inhibit economic interaction between low-income consumers and producers and strengthen the local infrastructure to support greater foodsystem-related activities. Major activities include establishing neighborhood steeringcommittees; recruiting rural and urban farmers, vendors, and social service organizations toparticipate in market activities; developing and releasing promotional materials that encouragewidespread community participation; training neighborhood residents to perform marketoperations; implementing two monthly markets and four weekly farm stands, and evaluatingactivities to ensure appropriate and equitable rollout. This project aims to 1) expand currentneighborhood infrastructure for the distribution of affordable, healthy food by increasing residentparticipation and increasing market opportunities; 2) integrate urban growers, rural farmers, andother local vendors into the local urban food economy; and 3) connect neighborhood residentswith local social and health service providers, educational opportunities, and community eventsto improve overall neighborhood health conditions. By incorporating a cross-section ofcommuntity partners, consumers, producers, entrepreneurs, and other community actors into itsactivities, this project will begin to develop a comprehensive response to address the currentlimitations in these neighborhoods' local food systems.