The Health Trust is seeking to transform the health of communities by increasing the availability of fresh and locally grown produce in communities that have long lacked such access. Access to healthy food is a critical prerequisite for health and obesity prevention. By providing convenient access to affordable, healthy, fresh, and culturally appropriate food, a community can promote health for all of its residents. Traditional retail outlets (such as grocery stores and restaurants) potentially provide access to healthy food, but communities are increasingly looking to innovative, lower-cost strategies that may be easier to start and more responsive to local needs and preferences. Healthy Food Resources such as gardens and farmers markets are an important part of the local food system and have the potential to support healthy eating, reduce environmental pollution, and promote economic vitality and self sufficiency.

The 2011 Request for Proposals are due September 30, 2011.

2011 RFP Timeline

RFP Questions

Please refer questions about this RFP to the Grants Administrator by emailing grants@healthtrust.org. A Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document from the Information Session will be posted to The Health Trust’s Web site on August 29.

Overview

Healthy Food Resources is a place-based approach to promote healthy food resources in communities with the least access or the greatest barriers to healthful food in Santa Clara County and Northern San Benito County.

Vision:
The Health Trust’s vision for healthy food resources in Santa Clara County and Northern San Benito County includes:

• Local and sustainable production of healthful food is maximized
• Fresh produce is valued and in demand
• Equity in access and affordability is prioritized
• All neighborhoods have healthy food resources within walking distance

Goals:

• Increase local production of fresh fruits and vegetables through gardens and urban agriculture.
• Increase and protect the availability of healthy food resources in low-income communities lacking such resources.
• Increase the affordability of healthy food resources for low-income communities.
• Increase utilization of healthy food resources by low-income communities

Outcomes:

• Increased production of healthful food
• Increased availability of healthful food for communities lacking access
• Increased affordability of locally grown produce for low income communities
• Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables

2010 Healthy Food Resources Grants:

CommUniverCity through the Tower Foundation of San Jose State University-$75,000 over 12 months for the planning phase of a new community garden model in the Five Wounds/Brookwood Terrace neighborhood and to implement a Fruit Tree Sharing program.

Fresh Approach - $100,000 over 24 months to pilot the Fruit and Veggie Prescription (RX) project that enables health clinic providers in Santa Clara County to offer patients at-risk for obesity and diabetes vouchers (RX) for produce from local farmer’s markets.

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County - $150,000 over 24 months to pilot a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program for 150 low-income families, plan and open a new farmers market in a high-need neighborhood and implement EBT acceptance at both the CSA and farmer’s market in East San Jose.

Sacred Heart Community Services - $100,000 over 24 months for La Mesa Verde to implement 100 new home gardens in the Washington Neighborhood and pilot projects to generate revenue and build greater program sustainability.

Veggielution - $75,000 over 24 months to expand the urban farm’s food production to two acres, implement EBT acceptance at its farm stand and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and engage East San Jose neighborhood residents to increase their participation on and purchasing from the farm.

2010 RFP