Application Period For Transporting Healthy Food Grants Now Open

ARLINGTON, Va., July 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Distributors and producers of fresh, local foods are invited to apply to the 2018 Grant Program for Transporting Healthy Food, presented in partnership by CSX and The Conservation Fund. The grants will range from $2,500 to $10,000 and will go towards charitable organizations working to increase access to fresh vegetables, meat, fish and dairy in vulnerable and underserved communities.

Since the Grant Program for Transporting Healthy Food began in 2014, more than $500,000 has been awarded through 54 grants, enabling recipients to serve an additional 300,000 families with more than 40 million pounds of food. The grant program is designed to support and strengthen local transportation and distribution of healthy food to communities in need. The grants are used by charitable producers and retailers in a number of ways, including purchasing refrigerated delivery vehicles and financing mobile market trucks and food stands to bring fresh produce to isolated communities.

The grants are given to charitable organizations in the 22 states where CSX operates—Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

"Everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food, but a lack of nearby grocery stores and farmers markets makes it difficult for many to buy fresh meat, dairy and produce. That's why local groups working to bring healthy foods to these communities are so critical," said Katie Allen, director of the Conservation Leadership Network at The Conservation Fund. "The grants help these organizations expand and enhance the important work they're doing, while also supporting local farmers. It's a win for food producers, food distributors and communities."

Grant applications are due by Friday, September 28, 2018. To download a grant application and learn more information about the program, please visit http://www.conservationfund.org/projects/transporting-healthy-food-grant-program or contact Margarita Carey at mcarey@conservationfund.org.

About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than eight million acres of land. www.conservationfund.org

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SOURCE The Conservation Fund

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