TRANSPORTING NUTRITION TO FOOD
DESERTS
CSX and The Conservation Fund
launch grant program to support transportation of fresh food to underserved
communities
ARLINGTON, Va. (Aug. 4, 2014) --
CSX and The Conservation Fund today announced a program of grants aimed at
improving the transportation and distribution of fresh, healthy food to
communities in need. More than 23 million Americans across the country have limited
or no access to fresh produce, dairy, meats and seafood. One of the
contributors to these so-called "food deserts" is the lack of
infrastructure to distribute fresh food to markets.
As a leading supplier of
efficient rail-based freight transportation in North
America , CSX recognized the integral role that local distribution
plays in bringing fresh food to the people who need it. Many producers and
organizations are challenged to retain food quality and safety as they sell,
store, package, and distribute produce and other goods to the communities they
serve.
To support local distribution and
help address this need, CSX and The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit
dedicated to finding conservation solutions that balance environmental and
economic needs, teamed up to create a program that will help farmers and
distributors enhance their delivery capabilities.
Grants ranging from $2,500 to
$10,000 will be made available to entities that distribute fresh
produce/perishable food in the 23 states where CSX operates. The grants can
support a range of activities related to transportation such as:
- acquiring refrigerated vehicles
for direct delivery to markets;
- financing "veggie
vans" to bring fresh food to isolated communities;
- providing better access to food
hubs or other sites where produce, dairy, seafood and meats can be stored
safely for distribution; or
- purchasing produce boxes and
cold storage bins to keep unsold food fresh for the next day's farmers market
or wholesale purchase.
"This program provides a
lifeline to Americans who struggle to make fresh food a part of their daily
meals," said Kris Hoellen, Vice President of Sustainable Programs for The
Conservation Fund. "With CSX's help, we're connecting our most vulnerable
populations to healthy, fresh food by addressing local gaps in food
distribution systems. Efficient distribution of healthy food also means more
effective use of natural resources required for sustainable agricultural
practices."
"This program truly
demonstrates the power of partnerships, drawing on the strengths of both CSX
and The Conservation Fund to identify solutions that serve the communities in
which we live and work every day," said Tori Kaplan, Assistant Vice
President, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSX. "Facilitating fresh and
healthy food distribution to underserved communities is exemplary of CSX's core
value of right results, right way."
Grant applications are due by
October 1, 2014. To download a grant application and see more information about
the program, please visit http://www.conservationfund.org/partner-with-us/corporate-partners/profiles/csx/
or contact Margarita Carey at mcarey@conservationfund.org.
CSX is also working with The
Conservation Fund on a program that is improving access to healthy food in five
underserved counties in West Virginia
- Calhoun, McDowell, Mingo, Roane and Wirt.
CSX has long been a supporter of
The Conservation Fund's work. CSX has helped restore critical habitat at two
national wildlife refuges through the donation of more than 13,000 trees and is
helping reconnect children and nature with the creation of a school curriculum
unit that teaches kids about the environment, math, science and economics through
real-world freight transportation scenarios.
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About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville , Florida ,
is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and
rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad
array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and
consumer products. For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in
the nation's economic expansion and industrial development. Its network
connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States ,
where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides. It also links more
than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with
major population centers and small farming towns alike.
CSX is committed to helping
communities it serves live healthier, greener, safer lives. The company
recognizes the importance for these communities to gain regular access to
locally grown, nutrient-rich, fresh food. That's why CSX is supporting
these grants to enable farmers, churches, towns, cities, neighborhoods, and
community groups to transport fresh food to people who need it, as part of a
healthier lifestyle.
About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we
combine a passion for conservation with an entrepreneurial spirit to protect America 's most
important lands and waterways for future generations. A hallmark of our work is
our deep, unwavering understanding that for conservation solutions to last,
they need to make economic sense. We strive to implement strategies that
support sustainable economic development, spark cutting-edge conservation and
bridge connections between people and the land. Top-ranked, we're advancing
vibrant, healthy communities. www.conservationfund.org
Contacts:
Ann Simonelli, The Conservation
Fund, 703-908-5809, asimonelli@conservationfund.org
Melanie Cost, CSX Corporate
Communications, 904-359-1702, melanie_cost@csx.com