OUR APPROACH
Grow Ohio Valley works from farm fields to market shelves
We are working to improve the health and economic opportunity of our region by building a robust, integrated, locally-owned food system. Through collaboration at all levels, we increase access to the healthy foods our community desires and support the local businesses that can provide it.
We work at five levels of our local food system
Local Production: We grow quality food, we support local farmers, and we train the next generation of innovative producers.
Value-Adding Processes: We work to turn fresh food from the farm into market-ready products of all kinds. Value-Adding is about turning maple sap into a beautiful jar of maple syrup or turning grain into freshly baked bread. We are building the infrastructure to allow local food entrepreneurs to create new products and scale-up production to reach wider markets.
Markets: We make sure that healthy, high quality food is available and affordable to everyone in our community. Our CSA, mobile markets, and downtown Public Market prioritize getting fresh food to areas with the least access.
Community Engagement: At every step we are bringing our community in to learn more about our local food system, to gain the skills necessary to improve it, and to celebrate the good food we produce together.
Environmental Change and Public Health: Healthy lives require healthy environments. More than fresh food and sustainable jobs, we are working with every sector of our community to shape beautiful environments that foster active lives and pride of place.