Project Grant 20233380040364

CAPE COD'S HISTORIC FISHING INDUSTRY LANDS THE NATION'S FRESHEST, MOST HEALTHY, WILD-CAUGHT SEAFOOD, YET OUR COMMUNITY'S PRE-SCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGE NUTRITION PROGRAMS ARE NOT INCORPORATING LOCAL SEAFOOD INTO MEALS ON A SUSTAINABLE BASIS. NOR ARE SMALL-BOAT, INDEPENDENT FISHERS WHO COMPRISE THE INDUSTRY ENGAGED WITH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SERVE AND FEED.THIS PLANNING GRANT IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES.OUR WORK WILL CREATE A PLAN AND STRUCTURE, WITH ENGAGEMENT FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WORK ON FOOD INSECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICE ISSUES, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND FISHING CAPTAINS, TO INTRODUCE GREAT SEAFOOD INTO PRE-SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH FISHERMEN AND LEARN ABOUT LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE INDUSTRY.WORKING WITH A REGIONAL COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE THAT ALREADY IS SERVING HUNDREDS OF MEALS A WEEK TO PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM MULTIPLE KITCHENS, WE WILL CREATE A SOLID INFRASTRUCTURE TO DELIVER TWO PRODUCTS ALREADY IN ESTABLISHED PRODUCTION THROUGH OUR SMALL BOATS, BIG TASTE PROGRAM: A HADDOCK CHOWDER, AND A FISH STEW.SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF COVID, WHEN WE BEGAN THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE PROVIDED ROUGHLY 500,000 POUNDS OF CHOWDER AND STEW TO FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES ACROSS OUR STATE AND REGION, MAINLY THROUGH THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK AND THE FEEDING AMERICA NETWORK. THIS PLANNING GRANT WILL BUILD OFF THAT SUCCESS AND FOCUS ON REACHING CAPE COD PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN DIRECTLY.INITIAL RESEARCH IS INTENDED TO MAKE SURE THIS OUTREACH, RELATIONSHIP AND STRUCTURE IS SOLID, AND TO ENGAGE IN INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUPS TO UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO EAT MORE HEALTHY, LOCAL FISH. STRATEGIES, ENGAGEMENT, AND OBSTACLES - CULTURAL OR CULINARY - WILL BE EXPLORED. THE RESULT WILL BE A COMBINATION OF A SMART PLAN TO DELIVER FOOD AS WELL AS INSIGHTS INTO HOW TO PRESENT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TRY AND ENJOY LOCAL SEAFOOD.TO DO SO, WE WILL BEGIN WITH INITIAL SERVINGS OF CHOWDER AND STEW IN PRE-SCHOOL LUNCH SETTINGS, TO GAUGE EARLY RESPONSE AND ACCEPTANCE. WE WILL ALSO SPONSOR SESSIONS THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FISHERMEN TO EXPLORE ALL RELEVANT ISSUES, AS WELL AS DEVELOP A QUESTIONNAIRE, FOCUS GROUP, AND OTHER OUTREACH TO GATHER DATA AND PERSPECTIVES. WE WILL BRING IN SUPPORT FROM TRANSLATORS AS NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY FOR BURGEONING COMMUNITIES OF PORTUGUESE AND HAITIAN CREOLE SPEAKERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.THE GOAL IS TO CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE PROGRAM TO INVITE CHILDREN TO ENJOY LOCAL SEAFOOD, AND UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO PREPARE AND PRESENT.THE FOCUS OF PLANNING FOR THIS PROJECT EXTENDS BEYOND DIRECTLY SERVING PRE-SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH THAT IS A CRUCIAL ELEMENT. WE EXPECT TO CREATE OUTREACH TO SEND CHOWDER AND STEW HOME FOR FAMILIES TO ENJOY, BUILDING APPRECIATION AND ACCEPTANCE AMONG THE CHILDREN. AGAIN, BEST PRACTICE FOR HOW TO DO THIS, WITH MOST ACCEPTANCE, IS A KEY ELEMENT IN OUR P,LANNING AND OUTREACH PROCESS.IN ADDITION, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNER CAC AGENCY, WE WILL INVITE LOCAL FISHING CAPTAINS TO VISIT AND TALK ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND WORK. WE WILL INTRODUCE THE IDEA THAT THE FISHING INDUSTRY REMAINS A VITAL OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT CAREER. WE WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR SUCCESSFUL, EXISTING FISHERMEN'S TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH HELPS PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE INDUSTRY.THE OBVIOUS POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE MULTIPLE. THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY IS STRENGTHENED BY STRONGER LOCAL DEMAND AND MARKETS FOR THEIR LANDINGS, AS WELL AS BUILDING DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO WHAT OFTEN ARE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. A BROAD COMMUNITY IS INTRODUCED TO LOCAL SEAFOOD, ITS HEALTH BENEFITS AND DELICIOUS PRESENTATIONS. PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN ENJOY BETTER NUTRITION, AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUE TO EAT MORE SEAFOOD AS THEY GROW. FAMILIES GET A SIMILAR OPPORTUNITY, AS WELL AS LEARNING ABOUT CAPE COD'S SEMINAL INDUSTRY AND OPPORTUNITIES TOENTER.