• Faculty

Nov. 21, 2016

Kristin Kiesel has collaborated on a new USDA grant to incubate "farm-to-fork" businesses for low-income communities in Sacramento's Promise Zone, which encompasses one of the most economically hardest‐hit areas in the nation with poverty rates over 34 percent. Sacramento lies in the middle of an abundant and diverse agricultural region, yet only two percent of the food consumed in the region comes from local sources. Kristin and students will work with Alchemist Community Development Corporation and Capsity, Inc. to support new jobs and opportunities to grow local food businesses, focusing on low-income food entrepreneurs who have limited resources and local farmers who want to create value-added food products.  The USDA selected this project for one of its 19 planning grants nationwide under the Local Food Promotion Program.

"This planning process will provide a strong foundation for creating Alchemy Kitchen, supporting new jobs for low income food entrepreneurs and local farmers while providing healthy food products for our community" said Dawn Dunlap, lead adviser and board member of Alchemist CDC. "This grant will help open up access to affordable and fresh local food to underserved communities, and provide opportunities for job creation," agreed Sacramento Congresswoman Doris Matsui. "It will also create great service learning opportunities for our undergraduate students," added Kiesel.

"Sacramento nonprofit plans incubator to nurture food businesses," by Cathie Anderson. Sacramento Bee, November 18, 2016.

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