The norton regional health foundation will establish a correctional facilitybased farmtoinstitution program within a USDA economic research service low access area of northwest kansas aiming to…

The norton regional health foundation will establish a correctional facilitybased farmtoinstitution program within a USDA economic research service low access area of northwest kansas aiming to increase local food access for regional hospitals and school districts. This project will leverage the existing capabilities of the norton correctional facility which operates a 10ACRE fruit and vegetable farm to produce agricultural products for institutional consumption. The primary goal is to develop a viable farmtoinstitution value chain directly supporting local farmers and stakeholders throughout the region. The project anticipates increasing the availability of fresh produce for the norton regional health foundation and the local school district reducing reliance on external suppliers. The anticipated outcome includes a functioning farm operation at the correctional facility generating a consistent supply of agricultural goods. The beneficiaries of this project will include the hospital and school district as well as the farmers and ranchers who will provide the raw materials. Furthermore the project seeks to establish a replicable model that can be shared with other state correctional facilities promoting regional food system resilience and supporting local food production.