Ohio CAN Food Program Reaches Under-Resourced Ohioans

In partnership with: Ohio Department of Agriculture

The need for healthy food impacts everyone. In Ohio, a new food access program called Ohio CAN (Community + Agriculture + Nutrition) connects food banks and their 3 million clients annually with farmers, especially from underrepresented populations.

“It’s exciting to see a federal agency, multiple state agencies, food banks, and farmers work together,” says Joree Novotny, Ohio Association of Foodbanks executive director.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services administer Ohio CAN with funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Local Food Purchase Assistance grant program.

See more: Ohio Women Hold Leadership Roles in Agriculture

Ohio CAN Facilitates Farmers

“Ohio CAN opens a world of opportunities for farmers by offering a direct-to-consumer price model allowing farmers to have the capital to scale up their businesses,” says Ainsley Lightcap, Ohio CAN program manager.

While any Ohio farmer within 400 miles of Columbus can participate, the program emphasizes 51% of participation from underrepresented populations including but not limited to women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans, disabled farmers, beginning farmers, small or urban farmers, and more.

One of the program’s more than 100 participants is Sharifa Tomlinson of ARROWROCK FARM, an urban sanctuary llc near Dayton. This organization is also a cooperative made of seven or eight other local farmers participating. Tomlinson provides fresh chicken.

See more: Top 10 Ohio Agriculture Products

“Being able to give back to the community while being a mentor, providing underserved populations with quality nutrition, and earning an income is a blessing,” she says. Partnerships with aggregators, hub networks, and organizations like Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, Agraria, Rural Action, and Central State University Extension provide guidance and services to help with refrigerated transportation and distribution.

“This program has given me the confidence to know I can succeed,” Tomlinson says. “I wasn’t raised on a farm; my career has been in nursing, but I consider myself a placeholder for the next generation of farmers. This program makes entering the agricultural field less scary for other BIPOC people, too.”

Network of Nourishment

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks serves a network of 3,600 hunger relief agencies reaching food insecure populations in all 88 counties, and Ohio CAN allows the association to purchase perishable local foods not usually available in the larger supply chain.

“The need for food help is at an all-time high, and food remains costly, for both individuals and food banks working to prevent hunger and hardship, so foods sourced through Ohio CAN are in high demand,” Novotny says.

Because of the program, protein, dairy, and storage crops like fall squash, onions, carrots, and root vegetables are available outside of traditional growing seasons, and food banks can purchase value-added, minimally processed, local foods, such as sauerkraut, tomato sauces, applesauce, jams, and pickles.

“It’s wonderful to have a variety of products that we normally weren’t able to source consistently,” she says.

Community Comes Together

Hunger impacts every community and has far-reaching effects on society.

“It threatens to rob children of reaching their full potential, harms worker productivity, contributes to household stress and economic uncertainty, and negatively impacts health outcomes for older and disabled Ohioans,” Novotny says.

By working toward hunger-free communities, Ohio CAN contributes to improved health and educational outcomes, increased worker productivity, and reduced health care and long-term care costs. With proper support and nutrition, underserved communities have a better chance to succeed and prosper.

“Every individual deserves access to high quality, local food. By selling to the food banks, this program fulfills that need,” Lightcap adds.

Recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic reveal the interdependence – and susceptibility to uncertainty – of local, regional, domestic, and global food supplies.

“Supporting local farmers is not only a worthy but a necessary endeavor to promote a secure food supply for every Ohioan for years to come,” Novotny says.

To learn more about the Ohio CAN program and its eligibility requirements, visit agri.ohio.gov/divisions/markets/resources/ohio-can. Farmers may access the Producer Registration form at agri.ohio.gov/divisions/markets/resources/ohio-can-producer-fillable-form.