Wow – what surprising good news just landed in the “In Box”, from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.  A sweet $22 million has been made available to increase healthy food in low to moderate-income under-served communities – rural, urban and suburban (… that’s everyone, right?) through the creation and expansion of healthy food retail outlets like grocery stores, farmers markets and co-ops. And get this – it also applies to food hubs — for packaging and distribution, so essential to local food.  $22 million isn’t really so much, but it’s surprising how helpful $25,00 – $250,000 can be to a local food system getting part of the infrastructure paid for!

Our hero, Oran Hesterman of the Fair Food Network (in our film, Ground Operations) was one of a consortium of recipients in Michigan — who are getting $3 million to support the Michigan Good Food Fund, to connect local food production to retail outlets.  There are a lot of entrepreneur farmers growing on those Detroit abandoned properties – I hope this helps them!

The Colorado Healthy Food Fund is leveraging their $800,00 to provide affordable financing to a full range of businesses in the food system.  They’ll be making loans from $1,000-$250,000 to finance equipment, real estate, and working capital to start up and expand healthy food businesses. Amazing!!!

Read on: http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/hffi-awards-local-food-systems/?utm_source=roundup&utm_medium=email