Farm2Fork: new grant, new coordinator!

In case you haven’t noticed, Mendocino County is quietly transforming into a rather happening player in the “Real Food Revolution” that is gaining momentum across the nation! For the past 10+ years, a wide range of activated citizens from the Coast to Covelo and every nook in between have been steadily building a healthy local food system, by strengthening our farmers markets, growing gardens at schools across the county, educating a new generation of farmers to feed our community, and strategizing towards a shared vision for a more sustainable and delicious future.

Thanks to these efforts, production is steadily increasing and community support of and demand for local food is at an all time high, but we still have much work to do before our daily meals, throughout the seasons, feature the bounty of the county. The time is ripe to take the next step and engage the large food purchasers in our community--the schools, hospitals, restaurants and markets—in this movement. If we can capture their significant purchasing power, we will infuse the local food economy with dollars grown and raised right here in Mendocino County, ensure food security for our community, and improve the quality of food served to our children, patients, customers and ourselves. This is where the Farm2Fork project comes in.

Farm2Fork is a new initiative of North Coast Opportunities/Community Action aiming to ramp up institutional purchasing of local food in Mendocino County. Launched at the beginning of February, Farm2Fork is coordinated by Susan Lightfoot, who will be facilitating connections between local farmers and the schools, hospitals, restaurants and stores that purchase significant volumes of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), this 2-year Specialty Crops Grant aims to increase the capacity of both local farmers and Food Service professionals to get fresh, healthy food from the field to the plate.

While the grant focuses primarily on creating Farm to School partnerships across the county, providing resources for training and equipment for schools to meet this goal, Farm2Fork will also work with restauranteurs, chefs, and produce managers who are interested in offering more locally-produced food on their menus and shelves. Susan is eager to connect with interested community members, farmers, food purchasers, chefs and distributors across the county to identify opportunities, trouble-shoot challenges, and synergize efforts towards a thriving local food system in Mendocino County. For more information, please contact her at (707)467-3238 or email slightfoot@ncoinc.org.

About Susan Lightfoot: Lightfoot is the Co-Founder and former Executive Director of the Noyo Food Forest and was instrumental in setting up the organization’s lauded Farm to School partnership with Fort Bragg Unified School District. She has been working in the grassroots on local food issues in Mendocino County since 2004 and is beyond excited about moving from the Coast to Ukiah to take on this new position as Farm2Fork Coordinator at NCO Community Action. An avid surfer and dancer, Susan truly loves working and connecting with all kinds of people and looks forward to making new friends on this side of the hill.