Rural community development

E S Foods Participates In USDA Farmers To Families Program

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 4, 2020
United States Department of Agriculture, Sustainable food system, Rural community development, Food politics, Food and drink, Urban decay

Earlier this month the USDA approved $1.2 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities through this new, innovative approach linking farmers to families.

Key Points: 
  • Earlier this month the USDA approved $1.2 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities through this new, innovative approach linking farmers to families.
  • E S Foods is just one of numerous companies awarded multi-million-dollar contracts by the USDA to produce food boxes for distribution to those in need.
  • "The USDA Farmers to Families program will be very beneficial to the families in our community."
  • LAUSD is a great example of the immense benefit that the Farmers to Families Program provides because they can now continue to feed entire families, not just the students.

Food Supply And Security Is The Driving Force For The Foundation Farms AeroPod Production Systems

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Articles, Sustainable food system, Food and drink, Food politics, Contents, Pharmaceuticals policy, Localism, Rural community development, Traceability, Food security, Urban agriculture, Food

Today, thousands of acres of vegetables and produce are rotting or being plowed under because the food supply delivery chain, farm to table, takes too long.

Key Points: 
  • Today, thousands of acres of vegetables and produce are rotting or being plowed under because the food supply delivery chain, farm to table, takes too long.
  • Foundation Farms uses the proprietary AeroPod technology that can potentially produce these foods at locations within minutes of where the consumer lives; thereby, solving the supply, security, and traceability issues mentioned above.
  • Ryan Veillet, President of Foundation Farms states: "We are extremely excited and motivated to be working in creating a consistent healthy and safe food supply.
  • We look to accomplish this by bringing our Pure Roots Urban Farms systems locally to consumers around the world while food quality and security are our main concerns."

Grameen America Launches Economic Relief and Recovery Fund for Low-Income, Women Small Business Owners in the Wake of COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 4, 2020
Professional services, Consumer, Small business, Women, Finance, Banking, Economy, Rural community development, Awards, Mixed economies, Cooperative banking, Grameen Bank, Grameen America, Microfinance, Grameen family of organizations, Microcredit

Nonprofit microfinance organization Grameen America today announced that it has launched the Grameen America Economic Relief and Recovery Fund, with the goal of raising $72 million to provide essential capital and support to the low-income women entrepreneurs the organization serves.

Key Points: 
  • Nonprofit microfinance organization Grameen America today announced that it has launched the Grameen America Economic Relief and Recovery Fund, with the goal of raising $72 million to provide essential capital and support to the low-income women entrepreneurs the organization serves.
  • The Grameen America Economic Relief and Recovery Fund will play a vital role in the recovery of our members businesses by providing essential capital and support during this unprecedented time of need.
  • During this unprecedented time of need, investment from the Grameen America Economic Relief and Recovery Fund will reach underserved women empowering them to rebuild their communities.
  • To learn more about the Grameen America Economic Relief and Recovery Fund in the recovery of small business across the country, click here .

Mastercard Builds on COVID-19 Response with Commitment to Connect 1 Billion People, 50 Million Small Businesses, 25 Million Women Entrepreneurs to the Digital Economy by 2025

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Networks, Finance, Banking, Professional services, Technology, Economy, Business, Articles, Rural community development, Credit cards, Cooperative banking, Grameen Bank, Microfinance, Grameen America, Female entrepreneurs, MasterCard, Entrepreneurship

In this time of global crisis, Mastercard today expanded its worldwide commitment to financial inclusion, pledging to bring a total of 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.

Key Points: 
  • In this time of global crisis, Mastercard today expanded its worldwide commitment to financial inclusion, pledging to bring a total of 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.
  • As part of this effort, there will be a direct focus on providing 25 million women entrepreneurs with solutions that can help them grow their businesses.
  • Getting people access to the digital economy is a critical part of that, said Ajay Banga, Chief Executive Officer at Mastercard.
  • To date, Grameen America has disbursed over $1.5 billion to help more than 132,000 women entrepreneurs build or expand their businesses.

UFA Donates 4,800 N95 Masks to Alberta Health Services Front-Line Workers

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 20, 2020
Rural community development, United Farmers of Alberta, Political parties, UFA, Agrarianism

Calgary, Alberta, April 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) donated a total of 4,800 N95 Masks, 60 cases, to Alberta Health Services this past week.

Key Points: 
  • Calgary, Alberta, April 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) donated a total of 4,800 N95 Masks, 60 cases, to Alberta Health Services this past week.
  • The donation comes at a time when frontline essential healthcare service workers are in need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like the N95 Masks.
  • Glenn Bingley, Chief Operating Officer for UFA says the decision to donate the masks was an easy one.
  • Independent Petroleum Agents and more than 950 UFA employees provide products, services and agricultural solutions to farmers, ranchers, members and commercial customers in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

UFA and Olds College Announce The Pitch Competition Winner!

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 17, 2020
Rural community development, United Farmers of Alberta, Political parties, Olds College, UFA, UFA, Politics of Canada, Premiers of Alberta

Calgary, Alberta, April 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) together with Olds College are pleased to announce the winner of The Pitch Competition: Kadeema Jean.

Key Points: 
  • Calgary, Alberta, April 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) together with Olds College are pleased to announce the winner of The Pitch Competition: Kadeema Jean.
  • The Pitch competition is the first of its kind as part of the five-year innovation partnership between United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Limited (UFA) and Olds College.
  • In addition to the creation of the UFA Innovation Lab, the donation helps to fund the Olds College Smart Farm.
  • The final piece of the partnership includes UFA Innovation Day, a day dedicated to recruiting the best and brightest future leaders in agriculture right from Olds College, the Pitch Competition is the final component of UFA Innovation Day.

UFA Announces New Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 10, 2020
Companies, Service companies, Rural community development, United Farmers of Alberta, Agrium, UFA, Nutrien, Deloitte, Chuck Magro

Calgary, AB, April 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Fred Thun as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Key Points: 
  • Calgary, AB, April 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. (UFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Fred Thun as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
  • Thun joins UFA with broad experience in corporate and operational finance,most recently as Senior Vice President, Finance and previously Interim Chief Financial Officer at Nutrien Ltd. Thun spent a total of 15 years with Nutrien and its predecessor, Agrium, in progressive leadership roles, ultimately overseeing global finance operations in the agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors and participating in significant M&A and integration activities.
  • His career also includes experience in the commodity chemical and professional service industries through roles at NOVA Chemicals and Deloitte.
  • Founded in 1909, UFA Co-operative Limited is an Alberta-based agricultural co-operative with more than 120,000 member-owners.

The Instacart for Local Produce: Farm-to-Phone App CropSwap Connects Communities Through Food

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 6, 2020
Articles, Sustainable food system, Food security, Local food, Localism, Rural community development, Sustainability, Food, Food and drink, Natural environment

"The impact of this pandemic on our shopping habits has been significant," says Roberto Reiner, CEO and co-founder of CropSwap.

Key Points: 
  • "The impact of this pandemic on our shopping habits has been significant," says Roberto Reiner, CEO and co-founder of CropSwap.
  • "It has become more evident than ever of our urgent need for a smarter, more sustainable shared food economy.
  • CropSwap empowers shoppers to search fresh, local produce in their area and arrange a purchase and safe exchange of products.
  • CropSwap was developed to cut down on food waste and deliver a smarter, more sustainable alternative to the food industry while supporting local economies.

As the Local Food Marketplace Changes, Farmer Joe's Gardens Introduces Innovative New Model

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Agriculture, Sustainable food system, Primary sector of the economy, Rural community development, Agricultural economics, Urban agriculture, Farmer, Community-supported agriculture

This season, Farmer Joe's Gardens is introducing a partnership with Harvie , an online farm share platform, to help overcome this limitation and better serve local consumers direct from the farm.

Key Points: 
  • This season, Farmer Joe's Gardens is introducing a partnership with Harvie , an online farm share platform, to help overcome this limitation and better serve local consumers direct from the farm.
  • "There's no fresher or tastier way to buy food than directly from your local farmer.
  • About Farmer Joe's Gardens: Farmer Joe is a fourth-generation farmer raising food and plants for his community.
  • 2020 is the 11th year that Farmer Joe and his wife, Homestead Ida, have offered their weekly Farmer Harvest Program (CSA).

Farm to Family Program Provides More than 4,000 in Need with Food, Helps Local Farmers Stay in Business

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 30, 2020
Farmers' Market, Food, Sustainable food system, Rural community development, Food politics, Federal assistance in the United States, Food security in the United States, Food and drink

I'm grateful to have been able to connect our farms to our families in Palm Beach County during this difficult this time."

Key Points: 
  • I'm grateful to have been able to connect our farms to our families in Palm Beach County during this difficult this time."
  • Farm to Family ensures that local farmers will stay afloat after the sudden closures of farmers' markets and restaurants.
  • The producegiven to local families today likely would have gone to waste if it wasn't for the new food assistance program.
  • Fresh RX Kids is a local experiential education program for children on the importance of nutrition and healthy eating habits.