This proposed 24-month western treasure valley food systems partnership planning and design project builds on a recent history of collaboration as well as regional food system assessments

This two-year, $328,712 project grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service supports the development of a regional food systems partnership in the Western Treasure Valley region spanning southeastern Oregon and western Idaho. Funded under the Regional Food System Partnerships program, the award recipient Valley Family Health Care will facilitate planning and feasibility studies to increase regional food processing, distribution, and access capacities. Key deliverables include a food hub and shared-use commercial kitchen feasibility study and business plan. The partnership will also coordinate nutrition education and convene cross-sector stakeholders to identify collective impact strategies that strengthen an integrated, health-focused regional food economy in Malheur County, Oregon and surrounding areas.

This project will create the container for previously disparate or siloed public and private partners to come together and determine how to build capacity and develop a systems approach to support an integrated andhealth-based regional food economy. Focusing on malheur county, oregon and the western treasure valley region that spans south eastern oregon and western idaho, the partnership will develop a food hub and shared use kitchen feasibility study and business plan to increase regional capacity for processing, food distribution and storage, small to mid-scale value chain market development, coordination and delivery of nutrition education, and food access solutions. The partnership will facilitate cross-sectoral and peer-led planning sessions and workshops to develop an approach that is inclusive, providing a forum for participants and community to identify and prioritize strategies or collective impact actions.