U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced yesterday that the Jefferson Area Board of Aging (JABA) will receive $54,834 as part of the federal Farmers’ Market Promotion Program.
“This year’s farmers markets awards will help strengthen local food systems and rural economies in communities nationwide,” said Merrigan in a news release.
JABA’s grant will help determine the feasibility of a frozen food facility that uses local food. The agency says it hopes to provide nutritionally balanced meals for their clients as well as the Department of Agriculture’s 50,000-plus Home Delivered Meal program, and help supply other area agencies with individual meals. According to the news release, favorable findings from the feasibility study could lead JABA to apply for federal rural development funding to create a facility and hire employees to administer the program.
JABA is no stranger to local produce. In March, the organization announced that it would help facilitate the presence of the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp program) in the Charlottesville City Market.
Along with JABA, 76 other grants totaling $4.1 million were awarded to agencies in 34 states. In Virginia, Friends of the Farmers Markets, Inc., located in Blacksburg, received $50,041; The Highland Center in Monterey received $77,653; and the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board, located in Roanoke, received $82,856.