Field of Greens Fund

Community Food Advocates Announces Fund To Benefit Middle Tennessee’s Sustainable Farms

WHOLE FOODS MARKET PROVIDES FOUNDING SUPPORT FOR FUND

Beginning this summer, local sustainable and organic farmers will have an opportunity to access monetary resources to support their work through a new fund hosted by Community Food Advocates.

Field of Greens: A Fund for Middle Tennessee’s Sustainable Farmers is the culmination of a grassroots response by local food advocates seeking a way to support farmers in the aftermath of the May 2010 flooding in Middle Tennessee. The Field of Greens Fund is supported by a coalition of food retailers, farmers, businesses, agencies and food advocates who have deep ties to Middle Tennessee’s sustainable and organic farmers.

Founding support for the fund will be provided by Whole Foods Market. On Tuesday, June 29th, Whole Foods Market’s Franklin and Green Hills locations are hosting a 5 percent day to benefit the fund. Representatives of Community Food Advocates Field of Greens Fund will be on hand at both locations to talk about the fund and hand out information.

In addition, Whole Foods Market locations throughout the southeast are selling a limited edition t-shirt designed with the slogan, “Bring the Music Back” to benefit the fund. T-shirts are available in stores in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The Field of Greens Fund will be established as a permanent program of Community Food Advocates. The Fund will not be limited to flood or disaster relief/recovery, but is intended to be a permanent funding source for farmers’ needs to rebuild, expand and grow their sustainable farms. Initial Field of Greens Fund awards grants will, however, be focused primarily on farmers affected by the flood.

Field of Greens Fund is proud to be a catalyst for connecting farmers who feed our region with individuals and businesses seeking to support them.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE FUND

VISIT WHOLE FOODS MARKETS ON JUNE 29th

Please consider doing your grocery shopping at either the Franklin or Green Hills Whole Foods Market locations on Tuesday, June 29. The 5 percent of sales benefit will run throughout the entire day.

SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND WITH A FARMER

Applications will be released in late June, and a committee will meet regularly to review and process applications. In addition to supporting organic and sustainable farmers located in Middle Tennessee, Field of Greens Fund resources will also be available to those in areas such as Southern Kentucky and Northern Alabama who support the Middle Tennessee foodshed. More details about the application process will be announced in the coming weeks.

DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE FUND

You can give to the fund by mailing checks payable to Community Food Advocates, 415 4th Ave. South, Unit B, Nashville, TN 37201. Please include “Field of Greens Fund” in the memo field. Call (615) 385-2286 for more information.

Or you can donate online directly to the fund through Paypal:

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FIELD OF GREENS FUND ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Field of Greens Fund, a project of Community Food Advocates, is supported by the following organizations:

Kathleen Cotter, The Bloomy Rind Artisan Cheeses

Amy Delvin, Delvin Farms

Marne Duke

Jennifer Hagan- Dier, Friends of the Nashville Farmers’ Market

Kristin Gentry, TNBuyLocal.com

Deb Grant, Franklin Farmers’ Market Manager

Michael Martin, Whole Foods Market Franklin

Robin Riddell, Slow Food Nashville

Lisa Shively, Local Table Magazine

Becca Stinson

Caroline Trost

Nancy Vienneau, Good Food Matters

Jolie Yockey, Nashville Farmers’ Market Manager