Fondy Food Center Inc

The fondy farm project (ffp): the ffp was established in 2010, when staff realized that fondy farmers markets primarily low income, hmong american farmers were dropping out of farming due to numerous challenges. The ffp offers affordable, long-term leases on quality land plus the amenities needed to succeed, such as irrigation, greenhouses, tractors, as well as technical training and business assistance from the fondy farm director. In 2017, responding to increased demand for farmland, and land closer to the city of milwaukee where most of our farmers live, fondy moved its farm to the mequon nature preserve (mnp) and increased the number of farmers involved in the project to over 20. The ffp is also engaged in innovative partnerships to explore land sovereignty for socially disadvantaged farmers, with a goal of connecting small scale farmers to land while preserving farmland for future generations, and utilizing sustainable farming techniques to improve water quality in the milwaukee river watershed.

Public health advocacy - led by the organization, the milwaukee farmers market coalition partners are working together to build a healthier and more equitable food system across milwaukee. This city-wide healthy food access initiative convenes farmers markets, healthcare organizations, government agencies, hunger relief organizations and other organizations in order to increase access to, and utilization of, farmers markets by low income consumers. This work is increasing produce intake within milwaukee area communities while strengthening the local economy through technical assistance, training, and joint marketing efforts.