VIABILITY GRANT IN ACTION
MANSFIELD FARMS TO FAMILIES
In response to COVID-19’s impact on Mansfield residents and local farm businesses, the Town of Mansfield aimed to connect asset limited, income
constrained, employed (ALICE) households with local farms and CT Grown foods. To accomplish this goal, the Town was awarded a 2020 Farm Viability grant to launch the Mansfield Farms to Families Program (MFFP).
The MFFP was designed to boost access to fresh, locally sourced food through two strategies: food boxes and partially sponsored community supported agriculture (CSA) memberships. The food boxes contained a variety of seasonal local produce including leafy greens, squash and peppers, milk, eggs, and other farm products. The cost of local CSAs was shared between the MFFP and many ALICE households, who would have otherwise been unable to participate in a CSA.
Another component to this project was the development of new outreach tools and partnerships to improve the town’s ability to reach and serve ALICE households. New marketing materials and tools were developed, translated into multiple languages including Spanish and Mandarin, and distributed to promote the program to the community.
Despite conducting this project during the tumultuous early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MFFP was able to distribute 405 food boxes at five distributions, supporting and providing CT Grown products to over 80 families in a time where food insecurity was increasingly prevalent. The MFFP also secured and partially sponsored CSA shares to provide another 15 families with access to fresh, locally grown food. Another important impact of this program was that five farm businesses in Mansfield reported an expanded customer base as a result of the project.
The MFFP increased access to locally grown, nutritious produce and farm products to ALICE households, strengthened the local food supply, and enhanced the viability of agriculture in Mansfield.
The FTG is a competitive matching reimbursement grant for Connecticut agricultural producers and agricultural cooperatives. The Farm Transition Grant is provided through the State of Connecticut Farm Transition Grant Program, established in 2005 through Public Act 05-228, An Act Concerning Farmland Preservation, Land Protection, Affordable Housing, and Historic Preservation.