Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
North Dakota's local foods system is crumbling. Food access is challenging and food deserts are common in rural ND as ND's rural communities have lost 20% of their grocery stores since 2013. Further, of North Dakota's 52 counties, 6 of those counties do not have a grocery store (2023). The average size of farms has grown from 466 acres in 1920 to 1,506 acres in 2018 due partly to advances in technology, which decreases the number of people needed to work on the farm. Overall, farmers are getting older - the average age of a farmer is 59.4, and young producers, age 35 and under, only account for 9% of the farming population (2020).North Dakota's agricultural ecosystem is dominated by large-scale farmers producing cash crops. Of ND's 26,374 farms, only 571 are microfarms, or farms that produce specialty crops on less than 10 acres that could then be sold to local institutions, including schools, grocery stores, and hospitals or accessed by consumers through farmers markets and CSAs. Currently, there is no local foods market truck in the state that is open to a wide array of small farmers to support distribution of products, which would increase the long-term viability of small farms and strengthen the local foods system.Strengthen ND is requesting $272,950 from USDA NIFA to be matched with $363,370 over a four-year period to launch a mobile market truck to catalyze small production agriculture, increase food access in low-income communities, and bridge gaps in the local foods system. With this project, Strengthen ND and its partners will work to understand the potential and strategic action steps to better aggregate, and distribute local foods grown in south-central North Dakota and around the state. Strengthen ND's proposed mobile market truck will work in tandem with our Strong Farm Incubator programming, value-added agriculture accelerator, and proposed regional local foods processing facility.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Strengthen ND's goal through this project is to launch a mobile market truck to catalyze small production agriculture, increase food access in low-income communities, and bridge gaps in the local foods system. Through the activities proposed in this application and Strengthen ND's strong ecosystem-building work as a part of the Strong Farm Incubator, the following short-, mid-, and long-term outcomes can be anticipated:Short-TermMid-TermLong-TermIncreasedLinkages between two or more sectors of the food system.Number of individual entrepreneurial small production agriculture ventures. Increased number of individual sales by small producers.Amount of locally procured foods by institutions (schools, elder care facilities, hospitals, restaurants, etc.)Number of rural residents reporting access to fresh and healthy local foods at an affordable price.Innovative connections between the for-profit and non-profit food sectors.Resources and strategies to help reduce food insecurity in the community and prevent food insecurity in the future by expanding the use of the Dakota Double (SNAP Benefits Double Up Bucks Program) in rural North Dakota.IncreasedLong-term planning activities, and sustainable, multi-system approaches that build capacity of communities to address the food and agricultural problems of communities.Awareness of the value of small producers and local foods access in communities.Incidence of small producer- and local-foods-aligned goals in associated community-based economic and community development plans.A holistic systems-based approach to understanding local foods, food insecurity, and small farms economies. Reduction of food deserts in rural North Dakota.Reduction of the number of under-nourished individuals and families in rural North Dakota.Increased number of small producers in rural North Dakota.*Specific, measurable, and attainable outputs can be found in the Work Plan below included with this proposal for the time period of the project.Activities to Achieve the GoalsWork Plan KeyQ1: July 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024Q2: October 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Q3: January 1, 2025 - March 31, 2025Q4: April 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025Q5: July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025Q6: October 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025Q7: January 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026Q8: April 1, 2026 - June 30, 2026Q9: July 1, 2026 - September 30, 2026Q10: October 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026Q11: January 1, 2027 - March 31, 2027Q12: April 1, 2027 - June 30, 2027Q13: July 1, 2027 - September 30, 2027Q14: October 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027Q15: January 1, 2028 - March 31, 2028Q16: April 1, 2028 - June 30, 2028Goal: Strengthen ND will launch a mobile market truck to catalyze small production agriculture, increase food access in low-income communities, and bridge gaps in the local foods system.ActivitiesTimelinePerson(s) ResponsibleAnticipated OutputsActivity 1: Finalize and approve the proposed mobile market truck routes and operational plan as generated during the feasibility study completed February 2024.Q1Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Incubator Partners1 Finalized Route & Operations Plan1 Refrigerated Box Van with a Vinyl WrapBetween 8 and 12 Producers Trained and Operating the Refrigerated Box VanMobile Market Truck Marketing & Advertising CollateralBetween20 and 30 Producers Engaged in Utilizing the Mobile Market Truck for DistributionBetween 10 and 15 Schools Participating in Farm-To-School RelationshipsUp to 30 Institutions Utilizing the Mobile Market Truck for DeliveriesUp to 30 Communities Utilizing the Mobile Market Truck to Supplement Existing Grocery Store EffortsMonth-by-Month Mobile Market Truck Project ReportsAnnual Surveys Results Highlighting the Mobile Market Truck's ImpactActivity 2: Procure a refrigerated box van and complete any necessary adjustments.Q1-Q2Executive Director, Small Farms NavigatorActivity 3: License and insure the refrigerated box van.Q1-Q2Executive Director, Small Farms NavigatorActivity 4: Design and install a vinyl wrap on the box van.Q2-Q3Executive DirectorActivity 5: Recruit and train small producers to be route drivers, providing them with a monthly stipend for their time.Q1-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorActivity 6: Advertise the mobile market truck opportunity to small producers.Q3-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm Educator, Incubator PartnersActivity 7: Advertise the mobile market truck route and opportunity to institutions.Q3-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm Educator, Incubator PartnersActivity 8: Advertise the mobile market truck route and opportunity to rural communities.Q3-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm Educator, Incubator PartnersActivity 9: Launch the mobile market truck and its associated routes.Q3Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorActivity 10: Evaluate, month-by-month, the status and utilization of the mobile market truck for any necessary adjustments.Q3-Q16Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorActivity 11: Annually survey the communities and institutions utilizing the mobile market truck to gather information on individual rates and potential increased consumption of local foods.Q3-Q16Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorRelationship to Program GoalsStrengthen ND's proposal aligns with two of the Hunger Free Communities goals, specifically, goal 5 and goal 9:Effectively integrating public and private resources, including local businesses, to alleviate food insecurity; andCarrying out activities to identify and target food services to high-risk populations.Partnerships across the project, specifically linking existing and potential small producers with foods-based businesses, nonprofit institutions, and schools, speak to this alignment. This work also aligns with the intention of the funds from USDA NIFA by 1) Increasing the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and 2) Promoting comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues. Strengthen ND's project reflects a holistic approach to tackling food insecurity, the viability and incidence of small family farms, and long-term economic mobility of individual producers and underserved communities.?
Project Methods
Activities to Achieve the GoalsWork Plan KeyQ1: July 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024Q2: October 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024Q3: January 1, 2025 - March 31, 2025Q4: April 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025Q5: July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025Q6: October 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025Q7: January 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026Q8: April 1, 2026 - June 30, 2026Q9: July 1, 2026 - September 30, 2026Q10: October 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026Q11: January 1, 2027 - March 31, 2027Q12: April 1, 2027 - June 30, 2027Q13: July 1, 2027 - September 30, 2027Q14: October 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027Q15: January 1, 2028 - March 31, 2028Q16: April 1, 2028 - June 30, 2028Goal: Strengthen ND will launch a mobile market truck to catalyze small production agriculture, increase food access in low-income communities, and bridge gaps in the local foods system.ActivitiesTimelinePerson(s) ResponsibleAnticipated OutputsActivity 1: Finalize and approve the proposed mobile market truck routes and operational plan as generated during the feasibility study completed February 2024.Q1Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Incubator Partners1 Finalized Route & Operations Plan1 Refrigerated Box Van with a Vinyl WrapBetween 8 and 12 Producers Trained and Operating the Refrigerated Box VanMobile Market Truck Marketing & Advertising CollateralBetween20 and 30 Producers Engaged in Utilizing the Mobile Market Truck for DistributionBetween 10 and 15 Schools Participating in Farm-To-School RelationshipsUp to 30 Institutions Utilizing the Mobile Market Truck for DeliveriesUp to 30 Communities Utilizing the Mobile Market Truck to Supplement Existing Grocery Store EffortsMonth-by-Month Mobile Market Truck Project ReportsAnnual Surveys Results Highlighting the Mobile Market Truck's ImpactActivity 2: Procure a refrigerated box van and complete any necessary adjustments.Q1-Q2Executive Director, Small Farms NavigatorActivity 3: License and insure the refrigerated box van.Q1-Q2Executive Director, Small Farms NavigatorActivity 4: Design and install a vinyl wrap on the box van.Q2-Q3Executive DirectorActivity 5: Recruit and train small producers to be route drivers, providing them with a monthly stipend for their time.Q1-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorActivity 6: Advertise the mobile market truck opportunity to small producers.Q3-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm Educator, Incubator PartnersActivity 7: Advertise the mobile market truck route and opportunity to institutions.Q3-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm Educator, Incubator PartnersActivity 8: Advertise the mobile market truck route and opportunity to rural communities.Q3-Q16Farm Manager, Strong Farm Educator, Incubator PartnersActivity 9: Launch the mobile market truck and its associated routes.Q3Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorActivity 10: Evaluate, month-by-month, the status and utilization of the mobile market truck for any necessary adjustments.Q3-Q16Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorActivity 11: Annually survey the communities and institutions utilizing the mobile market truck to gather information on individual rates and potential increased consumption of local foods.Q3-Q16Executive Director, Small Farms Navigator, Farm Manager, Strong Farm EducatorRelationship to Program GoalsStrengthen ND's proposal aligns with two of the Hunger Free Communities goals, specifically, goal 5 and goal 9:Effectively integrating public and private resources, including local businesses, to alleviate food insecurity; andCarrying out activities to identify and target food services to high-risk populations.Partnerships across the project, specifically linking existing and potential small producers with foods-based businesses, nonprofit institutions, and schools, speak to this alignment. This work also aligns with the intention of the funds from USDA NIFA by 1) Increasing the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and 2) Promoting comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues. Strengthen ND's project reflects a holistic approach to tackling food insecurity, the viability and incidence of small family farms, and long-term economic mobility of individual producers and underserved communities.?