EQUATION COLLABORATIVE CORP. WILL STRENGTHEN SECONDARY MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL FARMERS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESSING NUTRITION INSECURITY WITHIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THE PROJECT WILL ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF INTEGRATING LOCAL PRODUCE INTO THE EXISTING BOX NUTRITION SECURITY PROGRAM LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY THROUGH A SOFTWARE APPLICATION CALLED BOX CONNECT. THIS APPLICATION DESIGNED TO PIGGYBACK ON EXISTING TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS WITHIN PARTNER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AIMS TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION AMONG LOWINCOME FAMILIES AND CONNECT THEM TO LOCAL PRODUCE AND RELATED NUTRITION RESOURCES. THE CORE OF THE INITIATIVE INVOLVES A PILOT TEST WITH BELLA MENTE ACADEMY A K8 CHARTER SCHOOL TO DETERMINE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INCREASED ENGAGEMENT WITH NUTRITION SECURITY PROGRAMS. EQUATION COLLABORATIVE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PARTNERS FARM TO INSTITUTION CENTER TO ENGAGE A NETWORK OF LOCAL FARMERS RANCHERS AND PROCESSORS PROVIDING EXPERT FEEDBACK AND FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIBRANT MARKET FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOME IS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR CONSUMERS AND GENERATE INCREASED REVENUE STREAMS FOR LOCAL FARMERS SUPPORTING THEIR ABILITY TO OPERATE PROFITABLY. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE THE FARMERS THEMSELVES THE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS RECEIVING ACCESS TO LOCAL PRODUCE AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DISTRIBUTION PARTNERS. EQUATION COLLABORATIVE EXPECTS THAT THIS INTEGRATED APPROACH WILL FOSTER A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL STAKEHOLDERS AND BOLSTERING THE NUTRITIONAL WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY.