A Win for Local Farms: Gold Country Food HUB Secures Major CDFA Grant to Strengthen Our Regional Food System

The Gold Country Food HUB has received a $100,000 grant through the USDA's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program, an initiative that invests millions to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses, to support the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities. This grant is especially important as budget cuts have impacted programs like the CalFresh Healthy Living program, and rising costs for farmers threaten the viability of local organic agriculture. The Gold Country Food HUB advances our local food system by providing access to locally produced, healthy food, farmer support services, community education and advocating for equitable, regenerative food economies in Placer, Nevada and El Dorado counties.

With recent budget reductions diminishing government support for healthy food programs and the increasing cost pressures faced by farmers, the need for a sustainable, locally resilient food system has never been greater. The Gold Country Food HUB's mission driven work to develop marketing, sales, aggregation, storage, processing and distribution infrastructure will help ensure farmers can reach local markets and institutions like schools, food banks and community benefit organizations. Their work supports small-scale, organic farmers, reduces food insecurity, and strengthens community health and economic resilience in the face of funding uncertainties.

This Giving Tuesday, the Gold Country Food HUB invites the community to celebrate this grant win by supporting their vital work through donations. Local contributions are critical to sustain and expand the food hub's impact regardless of government funding fluctuations, helping to build a food system rooted in local, organic, and equitable practices that benefit everyone from farmers to consumers.

Impact of the Grant Win

• Supports infrastructure development for local food aggregation, storage and distribution

• Prioritizes local, small-scale, organic farmers facing increased operational costs

• Enables local institutions to source locally produced. fresh, healthy foods directly from Northern California farms.

Challenges Facing Local Food Systems Today

• Recent government budget cuts threaten programs that promote healthy, fresh food access.

• Farmers encounter rising costs affecting their ability to maintain organic and sustainable practices.

• Food hubs like Gold Country Food HUB provide crucial support to keep local food viable and accessible.

How You Can Help This Giving Tuesday

• Donations allow the hub to continue offering farmer support services, community education, and advocacy.

• Supporting local food means investing in sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and economic equity.

• Your generosity fosters a resilient food system that thrives independent of fluctuating public funding.

Together, by celebrating and supporting the Gold Country Food HUB this Giving Tuesday, we can nurture a food system that sustains our local communities, honors our farmers, and builds a healthier, more equitable future for all.​

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