Greetings!
Thanks to a partnership between the Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN),
Columbus Public Health's Center for Public Health Innovation, Columbus Public
Health's Local Food System Strategies Team, and with funding from Columbus City
Council and The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation Emergency
COVID-19 Response Fund, we are excited to announce a new pilot program,
FarmsSHARE (Farms Serving Health and Racial Equity). This program will launch
in Columbus to support urban growers and Ohio Farmers, and Columbus residents
affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with a focus on black, brown and
indigenous people.
FarmsSHARE will connect Columbus area local food focused community
organizations who feed their own communities, and Columbus urban growers and
Ohio farmers who grow the food. Recruitment will focus on identifying
organizations led by black, brown and indigenous people to serve as host
locations and black, brown and indigenous growers and farmers to provide the
produce. The program will be piloted at multiple locations with a goal of at
least 75% of the community host organizations being led by black, brown and
indigenous people.
The program will begin on August 9, 2020 with initial funding for up to 8 weeks
of fresh produce and you're invited to participate!
Urban growers located within the City of Columbus or Franklin County, or
farmers located within Ohio are eligible to participate in the FarmsSHARE pilot
program. Recruitment will focus on identifying and engaging black, brown and
indigenous producers.
Participants will be selected by the Ohio Farmers Market Network, in
partnership with the City of Columbus. For the pilot year growers and farmers
must have experience growing produce to be sold or demonstrate the ability to
grow an adequate amount of produce to support the pilot.
Ready to feed your community? Please complete FarmsSHARE Sign Up for Urban
Growers and Ohio Farmers application
here<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/forms.gle/fbYkwjvnGx7GNZVm7__;!!KGKeukY!lkT-2-jXmvJEvhCQarALKp8w7cs3039uQwldsHFwfDYKLtptwNgbwwria3SP-61pig$>
no later than Friday, July 31, 2020. Applications will be reviewed and
considered upon receipt and selections will be made based on the needs of host
locations and stated criteria.
Host locations may choose from a variety of free and/or low cost distribution
models such as farmers markets, farm stands and CSA programs, among others. The
chosen model and quantity needed will dictate the selection of urban growers
and Ohio farmers. Host locations, urban growers and Ohio farmers will be
matched by program administrators, and an orientation will be scheduled once
matched.
Learn more about the FarmsSHARE program, including a timeline, in the attached
overview for Ohio farmers and urban growers.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Jaime Hadji
Ohio Farmers Market Network
614.327.0102<tel:614.327.0102>
ohiofarmersmarketnetwork@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:ohiofarmersmarketnetwork@xxxxxxxxx>
Angela Blatt
614.354.7641<tel:614.354.7641>
blatt.13@xxxxxxx<mailto:blatt.13@xxxxxxx>
[The Ohio State University]
Angela Blatt
Program Coordinator
Initiative for Food and AgriCultural Transformation (InFACT)
3138B Smith Lab, 174 W. 18th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
614-354-7641 Mobile
blatt.13@xxxxxxx<mailto:blatt.13@xxxxxxx>
discovery.osu.edu/infact<http://discovery.osu.edu/focus-areas/infact/>
Attachment:
Overview_ Farmers and Growers.pdf
Description: Overview_ Farmers and Growers.pdf