Local farmers are a key part of addressing food insecurity
In recent years, the demand on the emergency food system has grown as more and more people are impacted by food insecurity. The state of Minnesota is stepping in to help solve that with a new grant geared towards local food production.
Apple at the Dorthy Day Food Pantry.
Local farmers and food organizations have the opportunity to provide Minnesotans with access to fresh, locally grown food — all thanks to a new state grant.
The food funded through this new endeavor will be freely given to Minnesotans whose food needs are not being met through the current emergency food system.
In recent years, the demand on the emergency food system has grown as more and more people are impacted by food insecurity.
The Dorthy Day Food Pantry has seen an increased number of local households coming to its doors at 1308 Main Ave in Moorhead.
That level of demand isn’t likely to decline any time soon, according to Angela Hoeper, the Nutrition Director at Churches United. The food pantry is always in need of donations to help individuals and families meet their nutritional needs.
“We have had a continuous rise in our visits at the pantry each day,” Angela said. “We have anywhere from 20-35 new households a day and have been serving over 100 households a day for over the last month. I see no decline anywhere in the future.”
Contributed / U.S. Department of Agriculture
About 13.7% of households across America experienced food insecurity in 2024, according to a recently released study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Further breaking it down shows that 18.4% of Americans with children in the home were — at times during the year — uncertain of having or unable to get enough food.
That’s 47.9 million people — 7.3 million of which are children. That number has been steadily rising since 2021.
Local organziations, however, can help fix this!
The Farm to Food Security Grant program will empower projects that purchase local food and distribute it to households experiencing food insecurity, according to a release from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
“This program connects Minnesota grown food with people who need it, while helping small farmers build new markets and stable income,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We modeled it after a federal program that demonstrated real impact, and I appreciate the bipartisan work at the Legislature that made this program possible in Minnesota.”
This program was created by the Minnesota Legislature last year and, in total, plans to award up to $1.3 million to individuals, nonprofits, for-profits, Tribal governments, government entities, agricultural cooperatives, economic development organizations, and educational institutions throughout the state.
Each applicant can request between $20,000 and $100,000 in reimbursement funding.
Locally grown food comes in all shapes and sizes, the release said, including garden produce, meats, and any other food creation that has at least one primary ingredient that is 80% grown or raised in Minnesota.
Applications are due by the end of March!
For more informations, please visit https://www.mda.state.mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/farm-food-security-grant-program