March 2, 2015

By Carlton Fletcher (carlton.fletcher@albanyherald.com), Albany Herald

ALBANY — Dougherty County has been selected as one of eight communities across the country to receive training and assistance to link family farmers and local residents who lack access to healthy food.

County Extension Agent/Coordinator James Morgan told the Dougherty County Commission at its business meeting Monday morning that the county had been selected by the Growing Food Connections collaborative to take part in the five-year, $3.96 million U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded research initiative.

“Primarily, the project will allow experts in the field to work with local governments and show them ways that they can help sustain the food system,” Morgan told commissioners. “We will receive, primarily, technical assistance. They’ll look at the policies in place to see if there are changes needed.”

Along with Dougherty County, the other communities selected for the collaborative, which is under the direction of the American Farmland Trust conservation organization, are Chautauqua County, N.Y.; Cumberland County, Maine; Dona Ana County, N.M.; Douglas County, Neb.; Luna County, N.M.; Polk County, N.C.; and Wyandotte County, Kan.

“Growing Food Connections is a landmark collaborative effort bringing national expertise in food policy and planning to assist citizens and their communities,” AFT President Andrew McElwaine said in a release. “American Farmland Trust and our partners will help create and strengthen local policies to better serve residents.

“We are proud to lead outreach, technical assistance and education in our eight communities of opportunity.”

Morgan said he will receive training through the initiative that will allow him to introduce best practices that will help local governments, planners, family farmers and consumers work together to strengthen their food systems. He said he has formed a steering committee that includes representatives of the Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission, the Southwest Georgia Project, the Water Planning and Policy Center, the Economic Development Commission, Tift Park Community Market, Phoebe Health System’s Network of Trust, Albany Technical College and the Dougherty Commission.

“That group will provide direction based on the opportunities presented by the project,” Morgan said.

Over the three years of the Growing Food Connections project, the collaborative will help local governments create their own plans, policies and partnerships, as well as make public investment to support family farmers and enhance food security. AFT will lead outreach efforts in partnership with the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab at the University of Buffalo, the State University of New York and Ohio State University.

“We have found that local leaders want tools and resources, not handouts,” AFT Assistant Vice President for Programs Julia Freedgood said. “That’s what GFC will do — help local governments develop a vision and game plan to benefit farmers, ranchers and community residents who are under served by our current food system.”

County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas praised Morgan for his efforts to include Dougherty County in the Growing Food Connections program.

“This is a great program for our community, which has a strong agricultural base,” Cohilas said. “Anytime a body has an opportunity to support agriculture, that’s very important.”