Funding set to improve first state food supply chain

DELAWARE –  Organizations in the first state are now getting funding to better support the food supply chain.

The funding will directly support local farmers and producers, that’s $665,872 among 12 projects.

“Delaware is rich and abundant in agriculture,” said Teresa Ripley, the Co-Director of The Teach a Person to Fish Society.

Richness in the first state will continue with recent grant funding for innovative projects supporting the food supply chain. “Helps to fund projects spanning actual food production through processing, transportation, and food delivery through distribution and storage, aggregation, all the aspects of the food supply chain across the board,” said Nikko Brady, the Director of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs for Delaware.

The director says by giving farmers and food businesses this opportunity they can expand their reach.A recipient of this funding is The Teach a Person to Fish Society, an organization that rescues food from local grocery stores and makes meals to support those in need. TAPTF partnered with the Milton Pantry Garden Beds to “improve and add a garden to add fresh produce to their distributions, they do biweekly distributions,” said Ripley.

Ripley says having these new upgrades will strengthen more than just the human population. “Promote sustainability and with that access to local fresh foods, is a key to sustainability not only for humans but for the planet,” Ripley emphasized.

The Department of Agriculture has also funded experimental projects around food waste to find ways to extend the shelf life of products, which will reduce food waste across the board. The Milton Pantry Garden Beds hopes to increase to weekly distributions soon.