Farmers and ranchers in southwest Colorado have seen reduced demand for goods as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts usual retail routes. Meanwhile, food banks and pantries have to keep up as more people need food assistance during the economic downturn.
And a new campaign is raising money in hopes of linking the two for a solution.
Rachel Landis of the Durango-based Good Food Collective is one of the co-organizers of “Food Farm Win Win.” She told KSJD that connecting the two also improves access to quality, local food.
“We thought we would try to marry the two,” Landis said. “To be able to receive something that is actually appealing and delicious and can feed your family well was a really moving moment.”
The campaign will help to distribute funds and facilitate the relationship between producers and food assistance programs, the latter of which includes Montezuma County WIC, Ute Mountain Ute WIC, and several others. It’s not the first time a similar effort has taken place in southwest Colorado.
But with a goal of raising $25,000 via Onward! - with thousands of dollars already fundraised from grants - Landis wants to see the campaign cover the “COVID gap” and strengthen the relationship in local food for the future.
“The commitment is there,” Landis said. “I say we’ll see this moving forward, hopefully indefinitely, and just growing into the future.”
Hear KSJD’s full interview with Landis below.
