Federal Initiative to Bring Healthier Foods to 27 Communities

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Access to healthier foods is vital for Latino families who may be more at risk for health-related diseases.

Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP), a federal initiative has planned to help increase access to healthier foods and help revitalize 27 communities through local food enterprises. The partner community works with experts to help community members access local opportunities for revitalizing downtowns and neighborhoods. The communities selected for assistance in 2016 were chosen from more than 300 applicants.

Some assistance and support will be directed towards changes in:

• Williamson, W. Va. for healthier food and healthcare systems, with access to healthier foods and access to health care
• Rocky Moun, N.C. for new farmer’s markets and urban community gardens, and affordable housing developments
• Clarksdale, Miss. for more farm-based training programs and new community gardens and a new farmers market
• Fallon, Nev. for a community owned grocery store

The communities selected for the 2016 initiatives include: Bessemer, Ala., Grow Palmer, Alaska, Lake Village, Ark., Fresno, Calif., Denver, Colo., Greeley, Colo., Winder, Ga., Honolulu, Hawaii, Gary, Ind., Middlesboro, Ky., Baltimore, Md., Gloucester, Mass., Gainesville, Mo., Henderson, Nevada, Passaic, N.J., Keeseville, N.Y., High Point, N.C., Connellsville, Pa., Walterboro, S.C., Mission, S.D., Jackson, Martin and Memphis, Tenn., Dallas, Texas, Christiansburg, Va., and Rainelle, W. Va..

Part of the White Hous Rural Council’s Rural Impact work, the initiative is a partnership between USDA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority.

Tom Vilsack, the Agriculture Secretary stated in a recent press release, “Projects like these help us learn how to better coordinate and target federal assistance as we work with communities to ensure zip codes never determine a child’s destiny and every part of America prospers.”

Growing Latino populations need access to healthier food and active environment. Initiatives that help bring more access to green space, economic opportunities and healthier foods access help build opportunities for healthier environments.

To learn more about this change, click here.