$25K Grants Will Expand Access To Fresh Fruits, Veggies In Lorain

LORAIN, OH — Two grants, worth $50,000, will support efforts to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables in low-income areas of Lorain.

City Fresh is a community-supported agriculture group (CSA) that provides fresh produce, sourced locally. Deliveries will start June 13 and continue through October.

The Community Foundation of Lorain County and the Nord Family Foundation both awarded $25,000 grants to City Fresh. The grants will be used to expand the "limited-income shares component" of City Fresh. During the pandemic, City Fresh saw a 240 percent increase in customers using SNAP benefits to make purchases, the organization said in a statement.

In 2022, City Fresh prioritized expanding access to fresh produce for limited-income households, the group said.

“This funding is necessary to help us continue to reach folks in low access areas in Lorain county,” said Anna Mauser-Martinez, executive director of City Fresh. “These grants help support our efforts to transform the food system to serve both farmers and eaters, and provide nutrition education efforts with peer-to-peer networks. We are so grateful for the Community Foundation of Lorain County and the Nord Family Foundation for continued support and encouragement of our programs.”

The order process for the 2022 season of the City Fresh program is now open and can be found on the group's website.

"The Community Foundation is proud to help City Fresh continue to offer healthy and sustainable food options for Lorain County residents regardless of income," said a spokesperson for the Community Foundation of Lorain County.