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JVUF works to improve access to healthy foods
What began in 2002 on a small vacant lot on Birmingham’s Southside is now the nationally recognized Jones Valley Urban Farm (JVUF), growing produce and flowers on a three-acre block in downtown Birmingham and another 25 acres in Mt. Laurel.
A longtime partnership with the Community Foundation continues with a 2011 grant to improve access to healthy food for children and for communities. Using a $75,000 investment from Community Funds over three years, JVUF is working with local and regional schools and home and community gardens toward this Result: People can lead healthy lives.
In 2007, the Community Foundation provided a grant for a pilot project called Seed2Plate which provided children the chance to grow their own food and learn how to prepare it. Opportunities like this can help children make healthier food choices, because they begin to accept fresh fruits and vegetable as part of their diet.
Other Community Foundation grants helped to spark the creation of the Arts and Science of Agriculture program in 2003, hire an Urban Agriculture coordinator in 2004 and hire a Community Nutrition Coordinator in 2008.
