Local Food As Medicine (LocalFAM) is BRWIA's food access program, which enables community organizations to provide their neighbors with fresh, nutritious food, supplied by local producers. The food is free to our recipients, but producers are paid full retail price for their products. Funding is provided by grants.
On average, 1 in 6 people in the High Country are food insecure, despite the deep agricultural roots in the region and abundance of locally produced food. LocalFAM helps to bridge this gap by redistributing these products to those most in need, while also providing a new market channel for local farmers and producers.
"LocalFAM is built on the philosophy that everyone has a right to access healthy food, and that nutritious food can serve as medicine, particularly for treating and preventing many of the chronic illnesses that people experiencing food insecurity are at a high risk for. This idea of using food as a form of preventative care has gained traction within the medical community in recent years, and we are excited to see this kind of holistic thinking continue to gain support." - Sam Springs, Local Food As Medicine Coordinator
LocalFAM is operated by Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture
Read more about partners, producers, volunteer opportunities and find free food on the full site below.
Do you represent an organization that could benefit from receiving free local food? Please fill outthis form and we will be in touch with more details. We are specifically looking to partner with organizations that support women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other historically disadvantaged populations, but ALL organizations are encouraged to reach out.
