Since 2019, EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems has brought together producers, food businesses, schools and regional partners to expand opportunities for farmers and support the expansion of the region’s food supply chain. EMFS programs focus on Jackson, Macon, Haywood, Swain, Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties and the Qualla boundary.
An initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, EMFS last week announced three new sources of funding. The Local Food Procurement Assistance Program is supporting the continuation of the Harvest Health produce prescription program to deliver up to 75 boxes of produce and value-added products for the next two years.
EMFS is collaborating with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association to continue this program with Vecinos, supplying Latino families with fresh local produce for the next two years. EMFS will continue to collaborate with WNC Farm to Table to source Harvest Health’s local produce and deliver the boxes.
Additionally, $205,350 from the Dogwood Health Trust will allow EMFS to continue to provide health education and cooking classes with each box of food.
EMFS partner Community Food Strategies, another initiative of CEFS, has also been awarded a USDA grant to support food council work in the region and the Piedmont Triad. This funding will continue for the next two to three years.
Finally, regional county extension directors recently met to discuss a new round of Appalachian Regional Commission funding to replicate and expand EMFS programming undertaken during the past four years. N.C. State Extension will be helping to facilitate this conversation and plans to submit a new proposal in April.
