$300K grant helps Rachel’s Table expand food access
SPRINGFIELD — The food rescue nonprofit Rachel’s Table recently received a grant of more than $300,000 over three years from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help expand its Bea’s Harvest and Growing Gardens initiatives.
The grant is part of the USDA’s Regional Food System Partnerships program and will also enable Rachel’s Table to explore economic incentives for farmers and employment pathways for people impacted by food insecurity.
“We are grateful to the USDA for this grant, which will allow us to infuse more fresh produce into food insecure communities in western Massachusetts through our Growing Gardens and Bea’s Harvest initiatives,” Jodi Falk, director of Rachel’s Table, said in a statement. “This grant will also help us to contribute and collaborate with local leaders on food system resiliency experiments and explore economic incentives for farmers that encourage regenerative and equitable farming practices that benefit the land and community.”