Over 34,000 DC residents live in “food deserts” — over a mile from a supermarket — and many also struggle to pay for needed food. So DOL combines food access with economic opportunity, building food systems that are powered by the communities they serve. Since 2008, its community farmers markets have provided 40,000 low-income customers with 300,000 pounds of healthy food. At the Farm and Food Hub (its flagship program in Ward 7), DOL grows organic produce; runs a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program — members pay before the growing season and farmers share the harvest; conducts school-to-farm educational programs; and offers workforce development training. Partnering with regional farms, it also serves as a hub for storing, processing, and distributing local food that it shares with area schools, small businesses, and nonprofits. Fueling local economies and creating food security: it's a win-win.
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