New food-as-medicine marketplace opportunities are opening up for food hubs and farmers

The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) was awarded a $936,919.75 Project Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP). The grant will support CFSA in increasing the organizational capacity of seven partnering food hubs and the farmers they work with through implementing quality management systems, standard operating procedures, food safety plans, and direct technical assistance to farmers. Food safety training and direct technical assistance will also be provided to farmers in writing, implementing, and obtaining Good Agricultural Practices certification. It is expected that a total of 595 farmers and food hub staff will benefit, with 353 being historically underserved or socially disadvantaged. Key outcomes include 400 farmers increasing their knowledge of food safety and prevention, 240 gaining awareness of new market opportunities, 300 jobs maintained, 260 farmers reporting increased revenue, and 66 new farmers selling through participating food hubs. The project period is September 30, 2021 through September 29, 2024.

However, to access these new markets, food hubs need to increase their organizational capacity and the capacity of the farmers they buy from. This project will increase the organizational capacity of seven partnering food hubs and the farmers they work with by implementing quality management systems, developing standard operating procedures, implementing food safety plans, and providing direct technical assistance to farmers (objective 1) and providing food safety training (objective 2) and direct technical assistance to farmers in writing, implementing and obtaining GAP certification (objective 3). The project will benefit 415 farmers selling products through the participating food hubs, and an additional 180 who participate in a cfsa workshop and/or receive direct technical assistance on food safety, for a total of 595 beneficiaries. Of those, 60% (353) will be historically underserved and/or socially disadvantaged. This project will result in 400 farmers learning about and increasing their knowledge of food safety and prevention; 240 increasing their knowledge about new market opportunities; 300 jobs maintained; 260 farmers reporting increased revenue; and 66 new farmers selling to food hubs