The Food Trust

We look forward to the exciting and innovative work ahead to improve access to healthy foods and expand economic growth in NJ communities!

As we jump into Farm to School Month and prepare for the last days of our seasonal farm stands, let’s take a look back at some of the things we did in September: 📷 Staff visited Cleveland, Ohio to participate in the Rite Aid Healthy Futures Grantee Gathering! Fellow grantees include: Vetri Community Partnership, Philabundance, Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Share Food Program, New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC), Neighborhood Land Power Project 📷 We traveled to our nation’s capital for a Congressional briefing of the National Produce Prescription Collaborative, alongside partners from The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University Wholesome Wave American Heart Association Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 📷 We kept it local and spent a day at Philadelphia’s City Hall where staff joined representatives from American Heart Association Pennsylvania, American Cancer Society & American Diabetes Association for a successful Advocacy Day with partners in the Collaboration for Equitable Health 📷 We hosted another pop-up farmers market! Pictured: Firehouse Active Adult Center, located just down the street from our 52nd & Haverford Farmers Market

We’re thrilled to officially welcome Michael to the team!

Our Food Bucks and Food Bucks Rx programs are regional efforts that provide incentives for fruit and vegetable purchases in multiple food retail and healthcare settings. We're currently seeking a full-time Manager based in the Philadelphia area to manage these programs. Apply or share with someone you think might be a good fit!

Recently the Pennsylvania Farm to School Network (PFSN) launched the year-long PA Farm to School Institute with a two-day retreat at Heritage Creek Farm, bringing together over 50 farm to school stakeholders from across the state, offering a wide array of training opportunities through specialized workshops, panel discussions and large presentations. Training sessions were led by stakeholders from a variety of sectors including farmers, government agencies, non profits, school food service directors and even youth leaders! During the retreat, the seven selected school, district and early childhood and education program teams developed action plans to enhance farm to school programming in their communities during the upcoming school year, including starting and maintaining school gardens; serving PA-grown produce in school meals and snacks; and providing educational experiences for kids to learn about food and agriculture.

Last month staff attended the 2nd annual Unity Dinner to celebrate the Tioga-Hope Park and Garden. Thanks for having us Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), SEAMAAC, Neighborhood Gardens Trust, & The People's Kitchen Philly! Fun Fact: The Food Trust is implementing the Healthy Corner Store Initiative in Nicetown-Tioga through the Love Where You Live project, funded through Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS).

At the second general assembly of World Farmers Markets Coalition last week, local food leaders from around the world gathered in Rome, Italy to affirm the role of farmers markets as a tool for re-shaping the global food system. We were honored to participate in three days of meetings, debates, projects and alliances focusing on the key role farmers play in nutrition security, alongside our colleagues from around the world.

Looking to try more local foods? “Start with what you know and push yourself out of your comfort zone a little at a time to try new recipes.” - @Alyssa Thayer, Senior Associate of the Farmers Market Program at The Food Trust, via The Philadelphia Citizen.

It's Travel Tuesday and this time The Food Trust visited Montgomery, Alabama for the 2024 National Rural Grocery Summit. It was an incredible event, packed with insightful discussions and the chance to connect with both old and new colleagues. This summit is the premier event for independent grocers and rural food access stakeholders, bringing together grocery store owners, community leaders, food suppliers, researchers, policy makers, and funders. Staff shared lessons learned and innovative best practices for sustaining locally-owned rural grocery stores and improving access to healthy food in rural communities. Throughout the summit, participants discovered just how vital independent grocers are as a financial and economic asset to their communities, particularly because they can cater to the unique needs and preferences of their local areas. Our Healthy Food Financing Initiatives team presented on "How Healthy Food Financing Initiatives (HFFIs) Can Leverage Data-Driven Strategies to Support Equitable Rural Food Access." Staff explored what HFFIs are and what data rural grocers can use to bring funds into their community to address disparities in healthy food access within rural communities. 📸: 1) Marisol Zavaleta Martin & Rita Ouimet, ready to present! 2) Carmack’s Grocery, in Notasulga, Al. 3) Our HFFI team with Rhonda Mann of VOICES for Alabama's Children.

Last week christina pirello joined us for our Philly seasonal Farmers Market training to share skills for engaging cooking demonstrations. It was great to have her energy and expertise -- getting our team excited for this summer's demos! She provided some key tips, and then gave our educators some 1:1 / small group instruction on specific techniques as they prepped two of this season's recipes: Smashed Cucumber Salad and Apple Celery Slaw 🥗🍎🥒