FRESH Through the Years
Our Story
Food: Resources, Education, Security, Health in New London (FRESH) has been working since 2004 to transform the food system from what it is to what it ought to be: healthful, universally accessible, sustainable, just and beautiful! Rooted in collaboration, a diverse group of community partners has been critical to our success. Since that time, a constellation of practical food and health related projects has been created with broad support from the region’s Food Bank and other Emergency Food Providers, New London Public Schools and City Government, and a range of child and community based not-for-profits. In 2006 we developed the FRESH Advisory Board which consists of founding advisors, community members, partners, and youth, who steer FRESH and help network the organization throughout New London.
A note about our Fiscal Sponsor:
Third Sector New England (TSNE) is the Fiscal Sponsor of FRESH New London. TSNE is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission includes providing professional financial management, accounting, and other administrative and human resource services to organizations working for economic and social justice. FRESH receives no funding from TSNE but pays a below market rate to TSNE for the professional services they render.
FRESH is funded through a broad range of supporters, including:
- The many local garden clubs, congregations, businesses and individuals who share our goal of securing a just, healthy and sustainable food supply for everybody! Generous donations in cash and kind from many local donors ranging from $10.00 to $10,000.00.
- Local Foundations: The F.L. Palmer Fund; The Bodenwein Foundation; The Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut; The Liberty Bank Foundation; The Dime Bank Foundation; Pfizer Community Fund, New London Public Utilities
- Through support from the City of New London and Community Development Block Grant funds and through partnership with NL Office of Youth Affairs
- State-wide Foundations: The Vervane Foundation; The Perrin Family Foundation, Bishop’s Fund for Children
- Regional Foundations: The Wyomissing Foundation, 1772 Foundation
- State funds: Connecticut Department of Agriculture and Department of Environmental Protection
- National and international: Heifer Project International
- And the revenue we generate by selling some of our produce to the public.
Context:
A 2005 report by the Connecticut Food Policy Council ranked the City of New London 154th out of all 169 towns and cities in the state. (Community Food Security report) As one of the chief investigators of the report later commented, the city of New London was “weak on every indicator”. This included the two most correlated with poor CFS: transportation/ access to food, and per capita poverty levels (which was ranked 163 of 169 total municipalities in the state). Also noted was New London’s lack of access to food production resources (162 of 169) like commercial farms, C.S.A programs, and community garden spaces. Without the strong emergency food system which is in place (33 of 169), New London’s rank would have been substantially worse. It was the lack of access to transportation or physical proximity to fresh produce (166 of 169 in the study) that inspired FRESH’s original Mobile Market program, which has now grown to include partnerships with participating neighborhoods, allied agencies and private enterprises to distribute affordable healthy food to those who lack access. Our target populations are those most poorly served by the current food system: the young, elderly, those without much money, urban eaters, & small farmers. We find the food system an exciting place to focus our work exactly because it impacts so many aspects of life. Community benefits include improved public health, neighborhood beautification, opportunities for positive civic engagement and celebration, experiential education of ecological literacy, youth employment and leadership training, bolstering the local economy through agricultural production, processing, and marketing, as well as the priceless and re-emerging benefits that come from improved family nutrition, intimate knowledge of natural rhythms, and stewardship of natural resources.
FRESH Programs and outcomes to date:
- Since 2005 we have engaged 60 New London teens in approximately 15,000 hours of food security projects and training through our “FRESH Crew” program. Participating youth learn work and life skills, receive leadership training and serve the community. They grow and distribute fresh food, assist in educational projects with children and families, and enjoy a rich first work experience.
- Since 2006 FRESH has been growing produce on the FRESH Farm, 5 miles from downtown New London, on the campus of the Waterford Country School (WCS), and using the produce for community celebration and education, and to supply the FRESH Market.
- FRESH Market first ran in 2007, operating from an old parking shuttle (now used as the “FRESH Bus”, as we were able to upgrade our Market vehicle in 2009), was developed as a bridge to fresh food in a transportation poor area. Run by youth, this market serves primarily low-income, elderly eaters. From 2007-2009, 30,000 pounds of FRESH produce has been sold for an average price of 20 cents a pound in under-served neighborhoods of New London. Youth grow and harvest the food, run the market, service customers, collect feedback, and make improvements.
- In early 2007 youth and adult staff together identified our need for an urban, high profile garden in New London. Our site is neighbor to the largest Middle School and Elementary Schools in New London (total of more than 1000 students), as well as the building which houses both the NL Senior Center and Office of Youth Affairs. By 2008 we had transformed the abandoned tennis court from derelict and dangerous into a productive community resource.
- 750 children have participated intensively (many more have visited!) at this educational site to date through after-school programs and classroom visits.
- CGC hosts 100 community gardeners each year. And new community gardens are springing up throughout New London with our support! From 2007 to 2009 community gardening in New London tripled; in 2010 it will double again!
- 1000 neighbors and visitors have participated in weekly [summer] lunches, workshops and garden parties since CGC was founded
In early 2008 FRESH co-founded with community partners the Greater New London Farm to City Coalition (GNLF2C) which has convened multiple meetings of stakeholders, including consumers, local farmers, community gardeners as well as institutional buyers and brokers, to strategize and learn from each other- as well as conducting focus groups, surveys, engaging consultants and researching/studying the state of our food system and identifying future steps.
At this time, FRESH is bringing new and old partners together to develop facilities and establish comprehensive programs that meet the food needs of low-income eaters, builds community leadership and skills, and generates resources towards our ultimate goal: a strong, sustainable, accessible, healthy, and just local food system.