Fair Food Network is a national nonprofit that works at the intersection of food systems, sustainability and social equity to guarantee access to healthy, fresh and sustainably grown food.

We would like to pass on this latest information on the work of Dr. Hesterman, who is the co-founder of our first buyinbg club, and a friend who has visited us in Bellingham.

Fair Food Network RECEIVES $100,000 GRANT
FROM NEWMAN’S OWN FOUNDATION
Grant Awarded as Part of Nutrition Initiative

Fair Food Network is proud to announce the receipt of a $100,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman. 

The award to Fair Food Network was made by Newman’s Own Foundation as part of its nutrition focused funding initative. Through this initiative, the Foundation is donating a total of nearly $4 million to 40 organizations over two years with the aim of supporting new approaches and expanding model programs. This commitment is in addition to $1 million Newman’s Own Foundation already granted to organizations with nutrition programs earlier this year.
 
Dr. Oran Hesterman, President and CEO of Fair Food Network, comments, “We are grateful to be recognized by Newman’s Own Foundation for providing greater access to affordable, local produce for low income shoppers through our Double Up Food Bucks program. The dramatic expansion of the program since its inception in 2009 demonstrates the effectiveness of this healthy food incentive.”

Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks Program is an innovative way to encourage low income consumers to use their federal food assistance benefits (SNAP) to purchase nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets across the state of Michigan while supporting local farmers and improving the economy. SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks have cumulatively provided nearly $1.5 million worth of healthy, locally produced foods to 70,000 SNAP customers so far this season at our 75 participating farmers’ markets throughout the state. This is a 38% increase from last year at this time. This grant will enable FFN to extend this incentive program to more markets around the state and strengthen our case for changing food policy on the state and National levels.