April 2016 - "Improving Local Food Access to Moderate and Low Income Communities
/At our Spring Forum, we deepened the dialogue and working relationships between the social services sector and the local food movement, identified barriers to purchasing healthy local food, and highlighted work that is already increasing the availability of locally grown food for individuals and institutions.
We began our conversation with what we know: health and local food are connected; access, affordability and equity in our local food system impact healthy outcomes for all of us, especially our poor communities. Antioch Univ. New England, PhD Fellow, Jess Gerrior, briefly shared from her graduate studies on national issues which impact local food access.
Representatives of local programs and initiatives working to increase the availability of food then presented an overview of their work. Breakout groups followed to help bridge the gaps between social service organizations who work hand-in-hand with low-income communities and those who aspire to bring local food to their table.
Organized by the MFCC Education Working Group (EWG).
EWG member organizations: The Community Kitchen, KSC Dietetic Internship, Healthy Monadnock, Cheshire HEAL, Monadnock Menus, Community Garden Connections, Antioch Univ. New England, and Keene Housing.
