Education and Outreach Florida Certified Organic Growers




1 education , outreach

1.1 farmers markets/ebt
1.2 gift gardens
1.3 grow gainesville
1.4 neighborhood nutrition network
1.5 outreach
1.6 social justice
1.7 research





education , outreach
farmers markets/ebt

ebt project


in late 2010, fog launched alachua county farmers markets ebt project. ebt, or electronic benefit transfer, cards given government members of federal supplemental nutrition assistance program purpose of purchasing food , non-alcoholic beverages. before launch of fog s ebt project, there not many places in alachua county people these federal food benefits purchase groceries besides standard supermarkets. fog wanted implement method food assistance purchase fresh, local merchandise @ alachua county farmers markets. result of fog s ebt program, ebt cards can swiped @ fog vendor booth stationed @ various farmers markets tokens can used within market purchase meat, produce, , edible plants. project makes products @ farmers markets available members of food assistance program, offering these people more nutritious food options. in addition, ebt project boosts local economy supporting gainesville farmers , promotes local sustainable agriculture. fog booth educational hub, offering resources on gardening, cooking, community events, , more.


from february 2011 through september 2011, fog ebt project offered double value coupons using ebt cards @ gainesville farmers markets, giving users $2 every $1 swiped card. funding aspect of project provided alachua county. double value promotion substantially increased awareness of program , brought more money local agriculture community.


gift gardens

downtown farmer s garden


a project of fog s main outpost in alachua county, florida gift gardens. gift gardens—gainesville s initiative tasty gardens—have 2 facets. 1 entails providing low-income county residents 3 vegetable garden beds , ample tools , information maintain them. allowing families means become more self-sufficient , supplement food supplies upholds fog s effort towards social justice, inequity parallels nutritional disparities. provide these services community centers, such churches, schools , recreation areas, can receive ten garden beds. there on 200 gift gardens in alachua county, providing nutritious food, education , physical exercise healthier community. these gardens funded alachua county , city of gainesville, although supplement fog offers 1-4-1 gardens, people purchase personal gardens , money used provide low income areas free gift garden.


the other component of gift gardens community gardens maintained volunteers. these include downtown farmers garden, installed in july 2010, , recent addition of city hall garden in may 2011. these gardens provide educational opportunities, , harvests donated local charities , homeless shelters.


grow gainesville

in collaboration slow food gainesville, abundant edible landscapes, edible plant project, santa fe college , university of florida, fog seeking urban gardening network, in supply means , information people grow food themselves, while enhancing aesthetics of city.


grow gainesville membership based organization, annual dues fund operation of urban garden network. membership allows access seeds, equipment , discounts on plants , supplemental materials.


neighborhood nutrition network

the neighborhood nutrition network nationally acknowledged food program created gardens student participation @ 3 low income schools. harvests divided among cafeterias , students families, amounting on 4,000 pounds.


the project supported usda community food project grant, awarded in 2000 , 2003. latter grant allowed formation , proliferation of youth entrepreneurial farm , food preservation project, employing @ risk high school students @ local farm, giving them experience establish own businesses.


outreach

fog created organic transition project, initiative gives free technical aid farmers dedicated switching organic production. workshops provide farmers information on organic farming practices, federal regulation, , farm development. fog discusses financial incentives offered transitioning farmers, included in 2008 farm bill.


social justice

since 1999, fog has worked on agricultural justice project (ajp) create socially food label. such certification reflects fair working conditions , economic equity, ignored standard organic labels. these labels awarded business exemplify open relationship between producer , consumer, while maintaining environmental , social integrity. promote project, fog administers technical assistance , certification qualifying farms , gives training other certifiers, enabling them verify deserving businesses.


fog contributed formation of domestic fair trade association, oriented towards health, justice , sustainability. promote family-scale farming, direct trade, stable pricing, empowerment , transparency, achieved through education , assistance. recognize method evaluating social , environmental implications of business must devised, , working towards sufficient criterion.


research

fog s main research 2009 2011 project entitled organic perspectives: understanding views of florida consumers, specialty crop farmers , retailers. report aimed @ unveiling pervasive market influences on organic production opposed conventional methods, emphasizing attitudes , consumer component. research funded grant through florida department of agriculture , consumer services.








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