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When Boston's public schools closed in March, their gardens went untended. Then a volunteer effort grew.

Lisa Zwirn

September 08, 2020 |

The Boston Globe |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

After Boston Public Schools closed in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 70 volunteers tended schoolyard gardens at 14 schools to grow food for local families experiencing economic hardship. While students were not able to participate because of COVID restrictions, residents during the summer months cleaned garden beds and planted vegetables like eggplants, cucumbers, and peppers. Organizers expect to harvest about 300 pounds of vegetables by the end of September.

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In Rural Vermont, Food Relief Program Is Eyed as Model

Meg McIntyre

September 08, 2020 |

The Daily Yonder |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Brattleboro, Vermont

A food-relief initiative in Brattleboro, Vermont is helping connect people facing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic with free meals that are provided by local restaurants. The initiative – which also requires that the restaurants source 10% of the food from local farms – has already provided nearly 12,000 meals to local residents.

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Could the Coronavirus Yield a More Robust Northwest Seafood Economy?

Virginia Gewin

August 28, 2020 |

Bitterroot |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Garibaldi, Oregon

The international seafood supply chain was disrupted in the wake of the pandemic but small fisheries in the northwest have tapped into new local markets. The fisheries, which generally depend on exporting seafood internationally as well as supplying restaurants, have found an interest among local consumers in fresh seafood that has led to community-supported fisheries and includes meal kits. Smaller operations have found it easier to pivot to regional customers and have taken the opportunity to build a stronger regional food system which creates a sustainable seafood market.

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Shared solar fridges prevent massive waste in Nigerian markets

Morgane le Cam

August 24, 2020 |

Heidi.news |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Obinze

In Nigeria, shared solar refrigerators known as "ColdHubs" have allowed food producers and sellers to preserve their perishable goods and avoid throwing away many of their products. Throughout the region, 3,500 producers and retailers have used these containers with many doubling their monthly income.

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Homegrown: Part 2

Emily Stifler Wolfe

August 21, 2020 |

Montana Free Press |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Ronan, Montana

By collaborating with other businesses, nonprofits, and institutions, food processing enterprises in Montana are expanding the local supply chain to keep food in the state. The Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center packages food for a local grower's co-op, which distribute Montana products to individuals, grocery stores, and restaurants. The Livingston Food Resource Center created its own partnerships by buying its food from Montana farmers to give to people experiencing economic hardship. These collaborations are reducing the costs for local food processing, which also cuts down on costs for customers.

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Meet three Black-owned grocery delivery services bringing fresh food to your door during the pandemic

Jessie Roti

August 19, 2020 |

The TRiiBE |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago-based grocery delivery services are alleviating the hardship faced by those who live in food deserts. Black and brown communities with limited access to groceries were hit especially hard during COVID-19, when shelves were emptied out by those who could afford to stock up. Black-owned grocery delivery meets a crucial need in a community that has limited access to fresh produce. The service is also able to deliver hard-to-find ingredients and is a comforting presence in neighborhoods that are braced for another possible wave of the virus, potentially making the upcoming winter especially difficult.

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The Kitchen Garden Series upends the textiles industry by reviving an old Philly tradition: producing local linen

Courtney Duchene

August 13, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pottstown, Pennsylvania

A former costume designer and a farmer in Pennsylvania are partnering together to grow flax to produce their own linen. Since the fashion and textiles industries produce a lot of waste, the duo are reviving the crop that was traditionally grown in the area to raise awareness on the importance of a strong local textile supply chain. While harvesting the crop can be labor intensive and they don’t plan on making a profit from it this year, they hope to show that growing flax could be a staple crop in urban agriculture.

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Just What the Doctor Ordered: Produce Prescriptions are More Important—and Popular—Than Ever.

Andy Hirschfeld

August 13, 2020 |

Civil Eats |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Produce prescription programs across the United States are seeing a resurgence in activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs provide healthy foods at a subsidized price to patients with chronic health issues. For example, the VeggieRx program in Chicago used to give out up to 70 boxes of fruits and veggies a week, but now they’re up to 160 boxes a week. While studies have shown that these programs can have a positive impact on patients' health, insurance companies usually only pay for patients to participate in them for a short period of time, so the health benefits might be limited.

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Homegrown

Emily Stifler Wolfe

August 05, 2020 |

Montana Free Press |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Montana

Federal funding helped local food producers expand their operations to include processing plants which enables farmers to meet the demand of Montanans who sought an alternative to the empty grocery store shelves. The lack of processing plants has caused a bottleneck in the local food supply chain, a sore point which was amplified when the pandemic disrupted international supply chains, sending shoppers to their neighborhood farms. Small operators rarely have their own processing plants and must outsource that step in order to take their products to market.

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How This N.Y. Island Went From Tourist Hot Spot to Emergency Garden

Rachel Wharton

July 23, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

For environmental organization GrowNYC, their one-acre teaching farm on Governor’s Island became a victory garden for New Yorkers who aren’t having their basic needs met during the COVID-19 pandemic. While future land development on the island could impact their work, the farm is on track to produce about 20,000 pounds of food that is distributed by other groups like the Black Feminist Project as free or low-cost coronavirus relief food boxes.

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