As of June 2017, 15 hospitals signed the pledge to adopt GFHH. Half of these met the minimum guidelines for multiple standards.
Harvesting Opportunity: The Power of Regional Food System Investments to Transform Communities is a policy forum to be held August 3, 2017, at the Federal Reserve Board's Wilson Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Forum participants will discuss the use of regional food strategies to advance community and economic development goals, including models for collaboration between policymakers, practitioners, and the financial community. Participants will also explore research, policy, and resource gaps that, if addressed, might contribute to the success of regional food systems strategies.
“Lily has been with The Common Market Georgia from the start and played a big role in its growth, embracing the opportunities and overcoming the obstacles that come with any new venture,” said board chair Cicely Garrett. “She is passionately committed to our mission of supporting local farmers and increasing access to their products to all, and she is uniquely qualified to take that vision to its next phase of expansion.”
Lily Rolader has been promoted to director of Common Market Georgia. Rolader is former operations manager at the East Point-based nonprofit food distributor, which delivers local farm food to more than 80 hospitals, schools and grocery stores in Greater Atlanta.
Altanta native Lily Rolader has been with the local nonprofit food distributor since its 2015 inception
Schools have tremendous purchasing power and influence when it comes to local food. Here are some ways they are sourcing closer to home.
In addition to USDA programs that support efforts to develop and promote new markets for locally and regionally produced food and farm products, Haile discussed in his testimony the work they are doing to build a culture of food safety with the producers they work with. He stressed to the Committee that the next farm bill needs to invest more resources into outreach, training, technical assistance and capacity building as it pertains to food safety and producers.
Knowing where food comes from, how it is grown and by whom lends a greater respect to the planet and the people who grow, package, transport and serve it.
Tatiana Garcia Granados started The Common Market to bring farm food to her Philadelphia neighborhood. Now she's taking on the nation's broken food distribution system.
It's The Common Market's mission to bring together two marginalized groups: lower-income minority communities and small farmers. And in that sense, change can't come fast enough.
"On a day-to-day basis, things happen pretty slowly," [Garcia Granados] says. But, "we're playing for the long haul. We hope 50 years from now, the food system is totally different."
Our friendly and educated team is here to partner with you every step of the way. Connect today to learn of all the ways to partner with The Common Market.
"Often as a chef and manager, trying to buy local has been at the least a pain. Building a relationship with The Common Market has completely changed that experience. I know that the product I am buying is local down to the farm where it was grown. I am able to let the students know the people who grow their food so that they feel a real connection to those farmers. I look forward to a long and growing relationship with the Common Market."
— Allen Clark, Food Service Director, Sage Dining Services, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School