Community Food and Agriculture Coalition

Food access program double snap dollars (dsd): cfac works to increase the overall market share of local Food by growing opportunities for all montanans to purchase local Food, including coordinating the double snap dollars program, produce prescription statewide network, senior farmers market nutrition program, and farmers market development. Cfac served nearly 9,000 montanans and recirculated over $1.5 million to our local farmers, ranchers, and farmers markets through the double snap dollars (dsd) program, doubling benefits for snap recipients at farmers markets in 35 locations, and 15 networks partners. Cfac served 1715 seniors within 15 Montana communities by providing market coupons that were utilized at 174 farms. Cfac developed a network of healthcare facilities to distribute produce prescription incentives dollars to 250 patients across Montana.

Farmland conservation/land use advocacy: cfac continues to be a leading voice in the effort to protect farmland in western Montana. We hold a permanent seat on the missoula city/county Food policy advisory board, increasing our ability to make change in land use, Food access and more at the policy level. We are collaborating with missoula county to develop a conservation servitude program to enhance protection of smaller acreage farmland.

Beginning farmers and ranchers program: cfac supports new and early-stage farmers in accessing farmland and launching successful farm businesses through workshops, resources, and collaboration with more than 30 statewide service providers, to ensure that conserved land is actively used for production, and beginning producers are successful.cfac hosted 12 workshops and trainings for over 50 beginning farmers and ranchers, through our certified farmer startup program and on-farm success workshops. 59 beginning farmers and ranchers from across Montana attended workshops and field days on-site across the state. Cfac hosted 18 cohort discussions where 55 beginning farmers built peer networks and discussed their plans. 24 participants graduated by completing all sections of the certified farm startup course. 9 established producers participated in the farmer mentor program. Cfac provided 43 farmers with 66 hours of 1:1 technical assistance. 15 landowners attended landowner leasing workshops and 12 landowners and beginning farmers/ranchers attended 1 networking event to build connections.