NCAP recognizes barriers people have to eating organic and spray-free foods and seeks to support access to pesticide-free foods for all people. 

Connecting Farm Workers & Families to Local Organic Farming through Food in Southwest Idaho

In 2020, NCAP worked to improve access to fresh, healthy, local organic food for 50 farm worker families with young children by providing food directly to them at no cost. NCAP leveraged United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) funds to purchase 3,825 pounds of local organic food, and hundreds of pounds of potatoes, onions and squash. We distributed this food to 65 farm workers and their families (about 250 people total) with the help of diverse community partners including La Adelita Head Start Center and the Idaho Immigrant Resource Alliance and shared information on how to reduce pesticide exposure. We also provided hundreds of pounds of organic flour corn to Chicana and Latina entrepreneurs.

NCAP also provided an educational program for young children about health, organic food and farming, laying a foundation for a lifetime of healthy habits. This was achieved in partnership with La Adelita Head Start Center. Lessons were experiential, incorporating corn shelling and eating fresh pozole made from organic locally grown flour corn. Together we planned an experiential learning garden with culturally relevant vegetables for La Adelita, which will provide fresh food during the 2021 growing season. 

The third goal of this project was to identify farm workers ready to transition into farm ownership. NCAP staff had regular conversations with the Community Council of Idaho, La Adelita Head Start Center, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, Visión 2C Resource Council, Peaceful Belly Farm and Northbound Farm about racial disparities in farm ownership and the need to connect aspiring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) farmers with land and resources. From these ongoing conversations, several exciting future opportunities have opened up- stay tuned!