This weekend, a local business will host a meeting designed to address food insecurity in the CSRA.
Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture, and Agency will hold its first-ever Food Access Stakeholders meeting Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta’s location at 2241 Wheeless Road in Augusta, according to its Co-Founder and Executive Director, Karen Gordon.
Gordon said last year, Georgia Sen. Harold Jones created a study committee made up of local farmers, nonprofit leaders, economic developers, and other professionals to identify food insecurity issues in the CSRA.
That committee included representatives from the Augusta Economic Development Authority, Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, Golden Harvest Food Bank, and Augusta Locally Grown. A report was generated based on data collected from the study.
“We have great data from this study, and we want to bring these folks together to devise solutions,” she said. “The idea is to bring everyone to the table to determine what our assets are and how we can serve our community.”
The study didn’t focus specifically on food deserts because everyone doesn’t agree on a single definition for that term. Gordon said the official definition is having no access to fresh food within a mile of your home.
She said as of Wednesday morning, 40 people had registered for the meeting, but she expects about 50 people to attend.
“Generally, we want to keep the size at no more than 75,” Gordon said. “We want this meeting to be interactive.”
She said Growing Augusta’s mission is to support local farmers and agriculture. It works closely with CSRA nonprofits, businesses, and school systems to address food insecurity issues, specifically in south Augusta. The organization has set up farmers’ markets in south Augusta, including one on Golden Camp Road. Gordon said they’re very pleased to have a new ALDI location on Peach Orchard Road, but there’s more work to do to improve access in that part of the city.
For more information about the meeting, visit facebook.com/events/1393051114770147?ref=newsfeed.
