Provided
Press Release
Fresh Future Farm is excited to announce expanded access of healthy food options for Chicora/Cherokee residents with Fresh & Healthy to go meals.
The goal of the work is to provide another source of affordable and fresh food options in the area. The official launch date is Friday, February 19th, 2021 starting with a taco dinner and will continue each month through October 2021 with a new meal offering each month. Meals ‘combos' will include anti-inflammatory salads, homemade dressings, and calming herbal teas. They will be priced at $3 for community members. The Farm hopes to make margin on value added extras and secure local corporate partners to sustain the program. Due to COVID-19, all meals will be sold to-go and include complimentary educational materials like recipes and fun food facts.
“Thanks to Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD) funding and technical support, the farm will be more efficient and effective than ever in 2021,” Jenkins, FFF's Chief Farm Officer, said.
EFOD is a development strategy that uses food and agriculture to create economic opportunities, healthy neighborhoods, and explicitly seeks to build community assets, pride, and power by and with communities historically pushed to the margins.
“Our urban farm and USDA grocery store gave us the foundation to emancipate ourselves from an oppressive food system,” Jenkins said.
The farm's 2021 budget is focused on value added meal and snack options, hiring ‘seasonal' employees to help manage the farm and new projects, and subsidizing rideshare costs for Chicora/Cherokee residents living without transportation.
The Farm is also proud to serve as fiscal sponsor for the SC Black Farmers Coalition (SCBFC) and the Lowcountry Mutual Aid Fund (LMAF). The SCBFC works to train, equip, and support existing, returning, and budding generations of Black farmers. The Coalition is working with FFF to coordinate the 3rd Annual SC Black Farmers Conference and raising funds to provide seed capital to new farmers and offer eight intergenerational training opportunities. LMAF hosted a second round of fundraising so Black, indigenous, undocumented, queer, trans, and disabled bodies will continue to receive monetary support and benefit from a community led network of care and accountability. The bulk of LMAF support will be distributed throughout Charleston County and the state.
