Press Release

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November 17, 2003

More than 200 community based organizations, churches, government agencies, and schools are being contacted about a grant to establish and maintain community supported mobile farm in West Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) will award a contract for approximately $22,500 to one organization to set up farm stands in several neighborhoods for a few hours at a time. Farm stands are similar to a farmers market where fresh produce is brought from farms to consumers. Other grant support, separate from the subcontract, is available for this project as well.

CCHS' Community Wellness & Prevention Program is hosting a bidders' conference on Friday, November 21 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at the Richmond Chamber of Commerce to answer questions for potential applicants. Organizations interested in getting a copy of the RFA should attend the bidder's conference or call 925-313-6834 after November 19 to request a copy. Proposals are due December 8. The RFA is also available online at http://www.cchealth.org/special/rfa_farm_stands_2003_11.php.

"Residents in many West Contra Costa neighborhoods don't have supermarkets or farmers markets nearby, and often don't have cars to travel to where the supermarkets and farmers markets are," says Melody Steeples, manager with Community Wellness & Prevention Program. "Setting up farm stands in these neighborhoods will make it easier for residents to get fresh produce. We want to make getting produce easy because a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is essential to good health. The farm stands are a potential source of employment as well, which is also good for the community."

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