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USDA Funds Oklahoma Local Foods Project

The USDA’s Community Food Projects program has awarded a three-year, $300,000 grant to “Cultivating Good Food for Good Health in Green Country.” This is a new project that will help to ensure that Oklahomans have convenient access to healthy and affordable Oklahoma-produced foods.

"The grant allows us to help communities in Oklahoma with food production, educational opportunities about Oklahoma-produced foods, and increased access to fresh and healthy foods, all while stimulating Oklahoma's economy,” said Chad Settle, Oklahoma Sustainability Network (OSN) Board Member.

The project will help low-income residents obtain nutritious foods more easily.  It will establish new community gardens, where urban residents can grow their own fresh produce, in low-income neighborhoods in the Tulsa area. Meanwhile, it will benefit existing community gardens by improving infrastructure.

Education will be an advantage of community gardens that are planned for installation on the grounds of some Tulsa-area schools. Other community gardens will be neighborhood-based gardens, which will allow citizens to grow their own food.

The project will also expand the use of food stamp benefits at farmers’ markets, in addition to assisting in the development of a statewide plan for administering a farmers’ market nutrition program for seniors and WIC recipients in Oklahoma.

The project also aims to enhance business opportunities for Oklahoma farmers and producers.  It will hold training sessions on best management practices for local farmers and farmers’ market managers, in order to increase direct sales of Oklahoma foods to Oklahoma customers.

The project team will also identify information about successful state Beginning Farmer Programs and share it with state administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders, with the eventual goal of creating a Beginning Farmer Program in Oklahoma to assist those just starting their own farming operations.

Additionally, the OSN annual conference will include a session to facilitate networking between Oklahoma farmers, consumers and organizations interested in Oklahoma-produced foods.

Oklahoma food will be promoted with an enhanced “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” campaign. This campaign encourages consumers to purchase locally produced foods with a promotional campaign and a local food guide.

The “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” campaign will expand to at least two other Oklahoma communities following the initial promotion in Green Country.

“Much of the food produced in Oklahoma is exported out of the state for consumption by people who live elsewhere. At the same time, many Oklahomans confront hunger and cannot find convenient and nutritious food that is reasonably priced,” said Seneca Scott, OSN Past-President.

“Oklahomans face challenges when trying to buy healthy, affordable food while Oklahoma-produced food is distributed out of state. The new program in Green Country aims to address this situation.”

The project is a partnership of eleven Oklahoma nonprofit organizations and agencies.

“This would not be possible without all of our grant partners, and OSN is grateful to each of them for helping us implement the program,” Settle said.

Key project partners for “Cultivating Good Food for Good Health in Green Country” are Oklahoma Sustainability Network, the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Green Country, North Tulsa EATS, Global Gardens, Tulsa Area Community Schools Initiative, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Tulsa City-County Health Department, Oklahoma Center for Rural Development, and Oklahoma Farmers’ Market Alliance.