LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork has announced the awarding of approximately $9 million in grants for 103 projects through the Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, including two projects in Lake County that seek to address food insecurity.
The grants will fund energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigeration and freezer equipment for corner stores, small businesses, and food donation programs in low-income or low-food access areas throughout the state.
Grantees will use the new equipment to stock California-grown fresh produce, nuts, eggs, meat and dairy products, as well as minimally processed and culturally appropriate foods.
In Lake County, awards went to the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Kelseyville Food Pantry.
Redwood Empire Food Bank, which serves Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties, has received $200,000 for 22 units — reach-in coolers and reach-in freezers — that will either replace aged, inefficient equipment or will supplement existing refrigeration capacity to allow their partners to drastically increase the scope of their work and the quality of the food they can provide.
The Kelseyville Food Pantry, managed by Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, has been awarded $5,238. The pantry, which has operated since 2012, serves all of Lake County, with a focus on the greater Kelseyville and Lakeport areas.
They will receive one standalone refrigerator and one standalone freezer. Both will be in their food pantry and will increase their capacity to store and distribute perishable items for the twice-monthly food distributions.
“This program is funding refrigeration units across California, from Humboldt County to San Diego,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “That demonstrates the importance of these grants in increasing food access in underserved communities. We thank Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature for funding this effort.”
CDFA awards $9 million to 103 projects in Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program; two Lake County projects included
- Lake County News reports
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