Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation (TDN, or the Nation) seeks to strengthen the resilience of their local food systems through purchasing from local, socially disadvantaged food producers and distributing fresh food boxes to underserved community members. This Local Food Purchasing project will help to address food security issues on and around the reservation area, which is classified as a food desert while supporting socially disadvantaged food producers in the local region. Fresh, locally produced food can be seen as good medicine, and this cooperative agreement has the potential to support the whole-health wellness of TDN citizens, our local socially disadvantaged food producers, our local economy, and our local food system network and ecosystems.
TDN anticipates purchasing 30,000 pounds of local beef from a socially disadvantaged rancher and distributing it to 125 tribal citizen households over a performance period of two years. TDN also anticipates the purchase and distribution of 30,000 pounds of mixed seasonal produce, which includes eggs, from a local growers’ association over the two-year performance period. TDN intends to purchase 2,610 pounds of seasonal mixed produce from a small local farm over the two-year period as well.
Access gained by tribal citizens through this program will increase fresh local food consumption for recipients. TDN will share information about our program and the local food producers who participate to promote and encourage local food purchasing and to support the strengthening of our local food systems.