The Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice is leading the FRESH (Food Revival through Economic Empowerment, Systems Change, and Health Security) Initiative to address food insecurity and economic disparities in the Mississippi Delta. This project will provide food systems training and development, creating a Fresh Foods Exchange to facilitate partnerships between BIPOC cooperative farms and local institutional buyers. Through an intensive food systems “boot camp,” farmers will receive technical assistance in areas such as sustainable agriculture, cooperative development, business planning, and grant writing. The program also includes ongoing one-on-one support to help these farmers meet the demands of institutional procurement. The FRESH initiative will centralize the local food market by enabling BIPOC-led farms to leverage institutional relationships, building sustainable food systems that generate increased economic opportunities. By building worker-owned cooperative food systems, the initiative seeks to address longstanding food insecurity and economic disparities, creating a model that can be replicated across the region to reduce poverty, support local economies, and promote healthier food environments.
