Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** immigrant and refugee beginning…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** immigrant and refugee beginning farmers in arizona face critical barriers to success, including lack of productive resources, low financial literacy, inaccessible and inadequate training options, and unfamiliarity with markets and USDA service providers. Through the new roots in arizona project, the international rescue committee will support 100 socially disadvantaged beginning farmers to gain the skills, resources, and opportunities to start or grow their farm businesses. Objectives include (1) improving climate-smart production, (2) improving food safety practices, and (3) improving business skills of 100 beginner farmers, and (4) assisting 70 beginning farmers to enter or expand their markets. Activities include providing, training, land, and productive resources; tours; market brokering; and 1:1 technical assistance during production, harvest, and market activities. This will result in 23 new farm startups, 43 growers who are prepared to start farming, 80 farmers who make beneficial changes in food safety and climate-smart agricultural practices, 70 farmers who improve their marketing and business skills, 55 farmers who gain a new market, and 60 farmers who increase their income. Collaborators include new roots farmers in tucson and phoenix, AZ, pivot produce, community food bank of southern arizona, literacy connects, tucson community supported agriculture, spaces of opportunity, maricopa county department of public health, and pinnacle prevention. 100% of federal funds are allocated to nongovernmental organizations and 100% serves socially disadvantaged, limited resource beginning farmers in arizona.