September 26, 2023

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Be Inspired By Food

Watertown Food Policy Council proposes six projects to improve access, affordability | Agriculture

WATERTOWN — Customers of the Foods Coverage Council of Jefferson County on Thursday presented a handful of concepts to make foods a lot more obtainable and cost-effective in the spot.

About a dozen people collected to hear two users of the council, which was shaped in the tumble to support with food stuff wants, current six suggestions. The council associates, Courteney Stepanek, of the United Way of Northern New York, and Amanda Root, with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, gave an interactive presentation at the Urban Mission, heading again and forth with attendees speaking about the projects.

The initial of these concepts was cellular foodstuff supply of foodstuff pantry deals. This undertaking is handled mainly by Dawn M. Cole, the Urban Mission’s executive director. It’s launching in about a week and its target will be on offering meals to older grownups who are homebound or unwell and very low-income housing citizens. Ms. Cole explained they’ll use the mission’s pantry, which is the most significant in Jefferson County, to supply meals to houses typically in Watertown, but the goal is to broaden to the relaxation of the county.

The 2nd undertaking will be a Foods Policy Council partnership with Stewart’s Retailers in areas exactly where grocery retailers are scarce. Ms. Stepanek mentioned the council desires to set affordable generate and other healthier foods in five Stewart’s Outlets, so folks don’t have to push far too far for groceries. 6 locations have been determined — Great Bend, Mill Street in Watertown, Coffeen Road in Watertown, Philadelphia, Evans Mills and Black River.

The third project aims to make it a lot easier for people today to use their Supplemental Nutrition Aid Method EBT gains at farmers marketplaces. Watertown’s seasonal farmers market on Wednesdays is the only market place in the location that accepts EBT. The council desires to grow this to other farms and make it less complicated for farmers to indication up for this system.

The fourth venture hopes to increase regional make obtained by meals pantries. The council would invest in a lot more make from regional growers and hand it off to pantries to distribute.

The fifth task will offer far more resources and incentives to get younger people associated in agriculture. The council, for case in point, may perhaps put a payment down on a tractor for an up-and-coming farmer.

The last task aims to improve the composting enter at Carthage Central Faculty District. The college now has composting bins in its cafeteria. The compost is utilized to fertilize the school’s gardens. The council would like to stimulate and broaden this software to the relaxation of the Carthage group and then to educational institutions all through the county.

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