These groups are improving access to healthy, affordable food
There are so many organizations working to help make a better, more interesting food system that, over the next few months I’m going to provide information about some of those organizations.
The following are organizations that improve access to healthy, fair and affordable food.
Ceres Community Project (ceresproject.org)
What it does: The Ceres Community Project seeks to strengthen the community by sharing healthy, organic food.
The project provides fresh, organic, home-delivered meals to low-income individuals who are too sick to shop and cook — all prepared by youth volunteers in a “soil to community” food system education program, nutrition classes, cookbook, catering services and a cafe with the aim of educating the public on eating right.
Their produce, locally and sustainably grown whenever possible, is harvested on their own farm.
Latest project/campaign: The New Program Site in Santa Rosa, Calif., is on the campus of an organization that provides housing, counseling and job training for youth who have been homeless, in the foster care system or otherwise lacked the support they need.
The site will include a 1/3 -acre organic food garden by early 2017.
Location: Bay Area, Calif.; headquarters in Sebastopol, Calif.
Email and phone: info@ceresproject.org, 707-829-5833
Social media: Facebook: @cerescommunityproject, Pinterest: CeresProject
Director: Cathryn Couch
Date started: 2007
Major funding: Primarily funded through individual, foundation and in-kind support from other organizations. It also earns revenue through events and its own business operations.
Nonprofit
Annual budget: $1,932,505 (2015 annual report)
Fair Trade (fairtradeusa.org)
What it does: Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers, protects fragile ecosystems and builds strong, transparent supply chains through independent, third-party certification.
Its trusted Fair Trade Certified label signifies that rigorous standards have been met in the production, trade and promotion of Fair Trade products from more than 70 countries across the globe. Recognized as a leading social venture by the Clinton Global Initiative, the Skoll Foundation and Ashoka, Fair Trade USA also provides critical capacity-building programs at origin and educates consumers about the power of their purchase.
Latest project/campaign: Coconut and seafood, which can be found in stores across the United States.
Location: USA; headquarters in Oakland, Calif.
Email and phone: jlarson@fairtradeusa.org, 510-663-5260
Social media: Facebook: @fairtradecertified, Twitter: @FairTradeUSA, Instagram: @fairtradeusa
President and CEO: Paul Rice
Date started: 1998
Major funding: Certification fees are paid by companies along the supply chains they certify, and they are also are funded through generous grants and donations.
Nonprofit
Annual budget: $13,737,358 (2015 financial statements).
The Food Trust (thefoodtrust.org)
What it does: The Food Trust has more than 20 years’ experience working with farmers, policy makers, schools, food distributors and community centers across the nation to increase access to healthy food and improve nutritional education.
The Food Trust also conducts research and advocates for policy change to secure long-term solutions to food insecurity.
Location: USA; headquarters in Philadelphia
Latest project/campaign: The Food Trust is hosting four Night Market Philadelphia events this year to support local food entrepreneurs and celebrate communities throughout the city. Visit nightmarketphilly.org for more information.
Email and phone: contact@thefoodtrust.org , chuckabay@thefoodtrust.org , 215-575-0444
Social media: Facebook: @thefoodtrust, Twitter: @thefoodtrust, Instagram: @thefoodtrust
Director: Yael Lehmann
Date started: 1992
Major funding: N/A
Nonprofit
Annual budget: N/A
Slow Food ( slowfood.com; Slowfoodusa.org)
What it does: Slow Food works to ensure all people have access to “good, clean and fair” food. The organization encourages healthy patterns of consumption by connecting people into local chapters, creating a community-based network that supports local and sustainable producers.
Latest project/campaign: Upcoming membership campaign is in September
Location: International/U.S.
Email: international@slowfood.com; chapters@slowfoodusa.org; comms@slowfoodusa.org
Social media: Facebook: @slowfoodinternational, Twitter: @SlowFoodHQ, Instagram: @slowfood_international
Director: Carlo Petrini (International); Richard McCarthy (USA).
Date started: Slow Food International was founded in Italy in 1989; Slow Food USA was founded in 2000.
Major funding (International): Slow Food International receives most of its funding through membership fees and sponsor contributions.
Major funding (USA): Slow Food USA receives most of its funding through grants, membership fees and individual donations (2015 annual report).
Nonprofit
Annual budget (International): 3,327,490 euros (2014)
Annual budget (USA): $1,647,066 (2015)
Wholesome Wave (wholesomewave.org)
What it does: Work to make locally grown fruits and vegetables more affordable for the people who need them most.
When people can afford produce, they buy it. And when the millions of Americans struggling with poverty eat more fruits and vegetables, we see immediate improvements for families and farmers and enormous long-term gains for public health, local economies and the environment. Our innovative initiatives serve more than 156,000 underserved consumers, as well as thousands of farmers annually, in 42 states and counting.
Latest project/campaign: Wholesome Wave’s Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx) is an innovative solution to preventing and treating chronic diet-related disease.
FVRx promotes affordable access to fruits and vegetables and healthy eating in underserved communities through partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations and fresh produce retailers.
FVRx is a proven evidence-based model of preventative healthcare with a demonstrated impact, resulting in healthier communities, food systems and local economies.
Location: U.S.; headquarters in Bridgeport, Conn.
Email: info@wholesomewave.org
Press: wavewholesome@thedooronline.com
Social media: Facebook: @wholesomewave, Twitter: @wholesomewave, Instagram: @wholesomewave
CEO and founder: Michel Nischan
Date started: 2007
Major funding: Primarily through foundation grants, corporate support, private gifts and government aid.
Nonprofit
Annual budget: N/A
Charles Platkin, PhD is a nutrition and public health advocate and founder of DietDetective.com.
This story was originally published August 26, 2016 at 3:11 PM with the headline "These groups are improving access to healthy, affordable food."