The need to alleviate food insecurity, reduce obesity rates, and enhance the health of Garrett County residents is so pressing that every effort must be made to address it now! Applying innovative, fresh approaches and harnessing untapped opportunities is at the core of the Population Health, Innovation & Informatics unit within the Garrett County Health Department. One of our projects is helping to establish infrastructure and create a sustainable community food network to capture the great work happening across Garrett County, including the formation of a community non-profit.

FORMATION OF A COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT (2023)

The Appalachian Farm & Food Alliance, Inc. non-profit was incorporated on June 5, 2023. It was created through a Maryland Department of Health SPINE funding opportunity with collaboration from the Garrett County Health Department’s Population Health, Innovation, and Informatics Unit, Garrett County Government, University of Maryland Extension – Garrett County, Garrett County Economic Development (Agricultural Business Program), local farmers, and community members.

The mission as it stands now is to facilitate collaboration between agricultural and food system service providers to educate the public and provide solutions for food insecurity through the creation of a resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system across the region. We’ve created a starting place, and we want to hand it over to dedicated community stakeholders.

There’s a public meeting on Monday night, and it’s hybrid, so you can call in or join us virtually if you can’t make it in person.

Our team continues to create opportunities to strengthen our local economy, create access for vulnerable populations, and cultivate a community of collaboration.

1) We’re calling on local farmers who have a passion for growing and raising foods that support healthy communities.

2) We’re calling on community members who value local foods grown by our neighbors and friends.

3) We’re calling on the helpers who want to serve vulnerable community members who are food insecure.

If you fall into one of those three categories, this may be the right fit for you!

To learn more about community efforts, visit www.garrettcountyfood.com

Here’s the meeting link:

Appalachian Farm & Food Alliance

Monday, February 12, 2024, ⋅6:00 – 7:00pm

Join with Google Meet

meet.google.com/wzj-dmsq-bct

Join by phone

‪(US) +1 513-480-3955‬ PIN: ‪782 726 795‬#

More phone numbers

Take meeting notes

Location:

Garrett County Health Department

1025 Memorial Dr, Oakland, MD 21550, USA