Stepping Stones — WI LFPA

Farmers Feed Dunn County– Food Diversification Initiative

PROJECT CONTACT

Angela Wolf

The Farmers Feed Dunn County - Food Diversification Initiative aimed to expand the Farmers Feed program by acquiring protein from local producers and diversifying produce for distribution to underserved communities in Dunn County. Stepping Stones, in its third year of the Farmers Feed program, has successfully distributed over 80,000 pounds of locally grown produce.

The initiative addressed the increased need for quality protein after the 2023 federal FoodShare benefits increase ended. The project benefited Wisconsin producers by providing exposure through various channels. Underserved communities, including rural areas and racial/ethnic minorities, received fresh, healthy products, filling gaps in households across Dunn County. The initiative also supported local students, particularly those receiving Share-A-Meal weekend kids' meal bags. The program strengthened partnerships with producers, enhanced relationships with diverse communities, and tracked progress through established best practices, ensuring diverse nutrition for underserved neighbors.

PROJECT UPDATE 1

Stepping Stones has purchased product from two Wisconsin producers. Eggs and meat have started to roll in and relationships with partners are strengthening. Stepping Stones has found that organization and communication are KEY with this project.

PROJECT UPDATE 2

In Q3, Stepping Stones of Dunn County experienced a busy period, successfully receiving products from all five community partners. Notably, they completed a contract with one vendor and strengthened relationships with others. While they gained valuable insights from their partnerships, there were challenges, including a vendor withdrawing from the program and some uncertainty with available funds. Additionally, one producer faced issues regarding pricing, leading to their decision to stop participating in LFPA activities. To address these challenges, the team established a donation-only partnership with the difficult producer, which is currently working. They emphasized the importance of communication and found the recent CPG meeting to be particularly helpful. Looking ahead, they plan to wrap up activities with three vendors, complete their first year of LFPA, and continue to foster new partnerships.