Ann Arbor-based Fair Food Network gets funding to improve urban access to healthy food

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has signed a cooperative agreement with the Ann Arbor-based Fair Food Network and is providing $40,000 to help fund its work to improve urban access to healthy foods.

The money will fund efforts to link Michigan’s agricultural community with urban markets like Detroit, said Oran Hesterman, president and CEO of the Fair Food Network.

The Obama Administration supports the establishment of local and regional food systems, as part of its ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative, said Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, in a release.

“Linking Michigan’s agricultural community to urban markets will bring new understanding of the importance of healthy eating and provide enhanced access to fresh foods,” she said.

The Fair Food Network earlier this fall garnered a $200,000 grant from the New York-based Woodcock Foundation to fund its public policy work with the USDA to put more federal food dollars into the purchase of locally grown food.

The organization has also rounded up a $980,000 grant over four years from the Troy-based Kresge Foundation and $500,000 over three years from the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan for its Detroit work.

Link: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091203/GEO01/912039978#

Source: Crain’s Detroit Business