Ossoff works to bring funds for healthy food to southwest Georgia

The Albany Herald, Ga.
·2 min read
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ALBANY — U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is delivering resources to expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables for children in southwest Georgia.

Ossoff announced Tuesday he is delivering new federal funding for Flint River Fresh to support the agency's farm-to-school programs in Dougherty County and increase access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. This program was successfully piloted at Dougherty County elementary schools, and this additional funding will allow the agency to expand districtwide.

Ossoff brought Republicans and Democrats together to deliver $269,000 for the project through this year’s bipartisan government funding package.

In 2022, Ossoff previously delivered funding to Flint River Fresh with bipartisan support to improve the infrastructure of the organization's community farm, purchase new refrigerated trucks, and expand an agricultural internship program with local technical college and Job Corps students.

“I’ve appropriated funds to Flint River Fresh to expand its farm-to-school programs and access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for south Georgia families,” Ossoff said. “I thank Flint River Fresh, Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District Executive Director Perri Cooper, and Flint River Fresh Board Chair Marty McLendon for bringing this proposal to my office and for their leadership in the community.”

“This funding will allow us to integrate gardening, cooking, and nutrition education into Flint River Fresh's Garden-To-Cafeteria program in Dougherty County and dive deeper into creating excitement with Pre-K through fifth-grade students about growing, preparing, and enjoying garden-fresh fruits and vegetables,” Marty McLendon, chairman of the Flint River Fresh Board of Directors, said. “We will improve the health of our children while exposing them to the importance of agriculture and protecting our natural resources, and together, we can tackle climate change, obesity, and hunger in Dougherty and other counties in southwest Georgia.

"We’re grateful to U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff for his continued support of Flint River Fresh.”