Gleaning Network Of Texas

THE GLEANING NETWORK OF TEXAS DBA GROW NORTH TEXAS CONNECTS FOOD, FARMS, AND COMMUNITY TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE, SECURE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM THAT ENRICHES THE LAND, ENCOURAGES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, AND PROVIDES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

MARKET PROVISIONS CO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL-SCALE, LOCAL FOOD BUSINESSES AND AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS ALL WEEK LONG AT THE DALLAS FARMERS MARKET, REACHING A BROADER CUSTOMER BASE AND GROWING THEIR BUSINESSES. THE ORGANIZATION DECIDED THIS YEAR THAT MARKET PROVISIONS WAS NO LONGER A VIABLE PROGRAM THAT WAS MEETING THE ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL FOOD. THIS CHANGE IN PROGRAM SUCCESS WAS LARGELY DUE TO CHANGES IN THE DALLAS FARMERS MARKET THAT CAUSED A CHANGE IN THE CUSTOMER BASE. WE DECIDED WE COULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN ADAPTING TO A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO MEET GOALS.

OWENWOOD FARM IS A 1 ACRE URBAN FARM THAT GROWS PRODUCE FOR FOOD ACCESS PROJECTS AS WELL AS TRAINS FARMERS AND GARDENERS. IT IS PART OF THE OWENWOOD FARM & NEIGHBOR SPACE COLLABORATIVE. OWENWOOD FARM SUCCESSFULLY GROWS $15,000-$20,000 WORTH OF PRODUCE EACH AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND. THE FARM ALSO HOSTS A 40 TREE DEMONSTRATION ORCHARD FOR GNTX GIVING GROVE. THIS ORCHARD IS ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE OWENWOOD COMMUNITY GARDEN HOSTS 10-15 LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD AND ALSO PROVIDES TEACHING SPACE FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. GROW NORTH TEXAS PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES. FRESH STOP FARM STANDS FACILITATES THE WIC FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL FARMERS TO PROVIDE FRESH PRODUCE TO FAMILIES WITH WIC BENEFITS. WORKING WITH OTHER LOCAL FARMS AND THE DALLAS WIC PROGRAM, FRESH STOP SERVES AN AVERAGE OF 1300 FAMILIES WITH OVER $35,000 IN PRODUCE. IN 2023, FRESH STOP ALSO SERVED AS THE PROGRAM UMBRELLA FOR A SPECIAL PROJECT TO INCREASE PROMOTION OF SNAP (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS) AT FARMERS MARKETS.

GNTX GIVING GROVE INSTALLS COMMUNITY FRUIT TREE ORCHARDS IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO STEWARD THE ORCHARDS, DONATING AT LEAST 50% OF PRODUCTION BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR SINCE 2022, GNTX GIVING GROVE HAS INSTALLED 15-20 ORCHARDS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND CHURCHES. THE AVERAGE ORCHARD IS 15 TREES. WHEN PRODUCTIVE THESE ORCHARDS COLLECTIVELY WILL PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FRESH FRUIT TO COMMUNITIES WITH LOW ACCESS FRESH PRODUCE. THE TREES ALSO ADD TO THE OVERALL TREE CANOPY AND BEAUTIFICATION OF THESE LOCATIONS.

FARM SUCCESS PROVIDES EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR LOCAL FARMERS WITH A FOCUS ON NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS. THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, FARM SUCCESS SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF 150 FARMERS ANNUALLY IN THE NORTH TEXAS AREA. THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM LIKE THIS BASED IN NORTH TEXAS SERVING SMALL, DIRECT MARKETING FARMERS WHO USE ORGANIC AND REGENERATIVE PRACTICES AND SELL IN THE DFW METROPLEX.