The Pueblo of Zuni is seeking funding through the USDA’s Local Food Promotion Program (LFPA) to launch a project titled "Revitalizing Traditional Food Systems to Promote Food Sovereignty and Health Equity in the Zuni Community". The goal of this project is to promote food sovereignty and increase access to healthy, locally produced foods for the Zuni community, while also building economic opportunities for local farmers and growers.
Through this project, the Zuni Food Pantry will purchase unprocessed and minimally processed foods from regional producers and tribal organizations in New Mexico, which is to be distributed via food boxes. This will provide healthy food options for the community and also support local farmers by creating a new market for their produce. The project will also establish a community advisory board (not part of the LPFA funding request) to ensure community participation and engagement in the project’s development and implementation.
In addition to increasing access to healthy foods, the project will also promote food sovereignty by revitalizing traditional food systems in the Zuni community. The project will encourage the production and consumption of traditional Zuni foods, such as corn, beans, and squash, and support local farmers and growers in growing these crops.
The expected outcome of the project is to increase the consumption of healthy, locally produced foods in the Zuni community, while also promoting food sovereignty and economic development for local farmers and growers. The intended beneficiaries of the project are the members of the Zuni community, particularly those who rely on the Zuni Food Pantry for their food needs.