• The project, "Improving Access to Fresh Local Foods'' will improve food security throughout Central Oregon by meeting the needs identified by food pantry clients, working with our Food Security Advisory Committee, and partnering with multiple agencies and farmers to provide improved diversity and volume of high demand vegetables and fruits. This project will use a participatory processes to collect community feedback and direction for programs and deliver tens of thousands of pounds of locally grown, nutritious produce to the regional food bank system.
• HDFFA will build upon the existing Grow & Give and Fresh Harvest Kit programs to expand the diversity and volume of foods provided to both SNAP and non-SNAP eligible food insecure residents. To ensure that we are meeting residents' needs, HDFFA conducted surveys at five food pantries in 2020 (Bend, Madras, Metolius, Sisters, and Sunriver) with additional locations planned for early 2022. Through these surveys we learned that food pantry clients (n=63) prefer to access fresh vegetables (77%) and fresh fruits (73%) over frozen or canned; when shopping at groceries they choose to purchase leafy greens, fruits, and berries (other responses include root crops/tubers, hearty greens, brassicas, squash, or none of the above); are most interested in selecting berries (86%), leafy greens (79%) and fruits (75%) at food pantries; and would like to see increased varieties (56%) and quantities (39%) of fresh produce at food pantries. An additional 30 surveys were collected but with an error - respondents were allowed to choose multiple responses - so results cannot be directly integrated but showed a consistent preference for the varieties of fresh produce indicated above.
• In 2021, we started a Food Security Advisory Committee composed of community members, half of whom represent local and national food security organizations, and half of whom have or are currently experiencing food insecurity. This advisory committee provides feedback for existing and proposed HDFFA food access programming, helping lead to greater food security in Central Oregon. Additionally, the advisory committee will inform our community education event: a spring 2023 speaker series featuring two people who are experts in the intersection of food security and local foods.
• Through increased diversity and volume of local fresh foods, combined with an economic incentive for farmers to donate said food, we will contribute to an increased nutrition security for those utilizing food pantries in 2022 and 2023.

We believe that everyone should have access to affordable, nutritious, local and culturally appropriate food at all times that is sustainably produced in Central Oregon and in a way that positively benefits our local economy. In 2021, we began translating our nutrition education materials into Spanish and shared them with community partners such as the Latino Community Association and directly with food pantry Managers. Our food pantry surveys were translated into Spanish with approximately 15% of respondents choosing this language. Additionally, we overcome transportation barriers by meeting people where they are (at the food pantry). We have worked with local farmers markets, food pantries, and the NeighborImpact mobile food truck to offer a variety of pick up days, times, and locations throughout the rural tri-county area. We intentionally work with NeighborImpact who screens food pantries to ensure they are distributing foods in an equitable manner.

HDFFA uses participatory planning processes to collect feedback and program suggestions from people who are or could access our programs. In 2021, we established a Food Security Advisory Committee to provide input on HDFFA food access programs and specific projects, and to help guide our efforts to create equity in food access - access for everyone regardless of income - in Central Oregon. The committee is composed of volunteers from the Central Oregon community, including program beneficiaries, food security organizations, and HDFFA board and staff; members are provided a stipend for their time and contribution. In 2021, we hired a Food Access Support staff member to specifically work in rural communities to understand food pantry clients' needs and improve our programming.