The ivanhoe farmer S market food equity minority farmer empowerment initiative will utilize USDA farmers market promotion program funds to strengthen the capacity of a crucial direct-to-consumer…

The Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council received a $164,640 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (CFDA 10.175) to strengthen a direct-to-consumer farmers market operation and support food producers in developing culturally and technologically relevant marketing strategies. The 3-year initiative aims to increase community engagement in the local food economy, create upward mobility opportunities for local producers, and drive increased consumption of locally produced agricultural products. Key objectives include expanding market operations, raising awareness of fresh, locally grown foods, and providing training and development for minority and urban farmers to facilitate more direct-to-consumer sales that benefit both small, historically underserved producers and the urban community facing food insecurity.

The ivanhoe farmer S market food equity minority farmer empowerment initiative will utilize USDA farmers market promotion program funds to strengthen the capacity of a crucial direct-to-consumer farmers market operation within the local food system, support food producers in the development of marketing strategies that are culturally and technologically relevant, and drive access and consumption of locally produced agriculture products. In alignment with key project goals and identified objectives of the fmpp, the collaborative partnership and probetween the two community-based organizations will drive the following outcomes: an increase in community engagement in the local food economy, an increase of upward mobility opportunity for local producers, and an increase in the local food consumption. The successful expansion of market operations, awareness of fresh, locally grown foods producers, and the training and development of minority, urban farmers will create significantly more direct-to-consumer sales that benefit both the small, historically underserved producers and an urban community facing food insecurity.