Georgia Food Oasis Grantee Spotlight: Sun Market

By Suzanne Girdner

Georgia Organics’ Community Outreach Manager and lead of Georgia Food Oasis

Sun Market (eatfromthefarms.com) received a Georgia Food Oasis 2021 Planning Grant to help with launching and promoting its first market season in April 2021. 

Led and managed by Gabbie Atsepoyi, a community activist living and working in Decatur, GA, Sun Market is on a mission to create affordable access to fresh local food for neighbors of communities near Columbia Drive, an area that lacks access to high quality fresh foods.  Another critical start-up partner, Wholesome Wave Georgia allows Sun Market to double SNAP dollars to extend food budgets for working families. 

I visited with Gabbie at Sun Market on a gloriously low-humidity morning on June 26 and met with a family of hard-working and generous vendors, who filled my arms with delicious food, and reminded me that community happens through the grace of a neighbor seeking and making space for connection with others.  

---

1. Tell us about yourself and one of your favorite ways to celebrate with food?  Or a favorite food memory?

Gabbie Atsepoyi, founder of Sun Market. Photo credit: Suzanne Girdner.

I’m Gabbie Atsepoyi (Aa-she-poo-yee), a first-generation Nigerian-American from Denver, Colorado. I moved to Atlanta in 2012 and now live in South DeKalb with my partner, Brent and 2-year old child. I graduated from Spelman College where I studied the environment, specifically policy, soil science and carbon cycling, so I love the earth and I’m committed to sharing with others the impacts of climate change on our world.

I also really love food and believe access to fresh produce is a basic human right. Food sovereignty within our communities deserves a special spotlight in conversations relating to equity, health and environmentalism. So I’m happy to share Sun Market’s purpose to our neighbors to jump start important conversations.

As a Nigerian-American, when in Nigeria, I grew up eating most meals served family-style. I have strong memories of the aromas and the associated story of each produce purchased from the market. Because my parents are immigrants so were many of their friends, and as a child each new family friend I met exposed me to new flavors, aromas and traditions.  In this way I grew up eating to experience culture.

2. Why do foodways and fresh food access matter so much to you?

My great-grandfather in Nigeria gifted all of his sons, including my grandfather, land to care for and steward. My grandfather managed the land, and my grandmother sold their produce at the market. They were able to provide for their large family through farming for themselves and others.  So this idea of caring for the land and feeding the next generation was very normal to me, and part of my family’s tradition. Later in college, I went to a seminar and the conversation focused on the soils of Africa--such a vague word for a vast continent with many countries!--and the presenting researcher went on to suggest corn species that would “help” people eat more nutritious foods. It was a complete shock to me — the Nigeria I knew was lush with fertile soil and had diverse and abundant crops that are more nutritionally dense and better for the environment than any species of corn could be (no shade to corn, and its complex food history).

3.  Tell us about Sun Market?

Sun Market is a local farmers’ market that exist only because of the sun. Thanks to the sun and soil we are able to utilize produce for energy and nutrients. Our main objective is to share locally grown produce to our neighborhood. When I first moved to Atlanta, I was amazed by the offerings at the farmers markets.  So much grows in Georgia! As I was starting to plan Sun Market initially, I was hoping to invite farmers out to vend, but as a new market that was harder than I anticipated--it’s really hard to be a new and unknown market and attract farm vendors! So I responded to this detour in my plan by buying produce wholesale from farmers, and then selling pre-packed produce bags filled with seasonal greens, herbs, root vegetables, and fruits — all sourced exclusively from nearby Black farmers. Luckily, the produce bags have proven beneficial at establishing a steady supply of produce, and helped us in setting a weekly budget and price point for shoppers. Our bags are filled with a week’s worth of produce, and separately shoppers can purchase mushrooms, eggs, and honey. Our produce bags cost between $35 or $40 per bag.  We accept and double SNAP/EBT which means we can offer these bags to SNAP households between $17 or $20. So far the farmers have been open to the arrangement because they save time and are able to avoid traveling to another market, and we pay them on time. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that I hope will grow. We want to pay Black farmers and share produce grown by them to our historically Black community while also addressing food insecurity and fresh food access. 

4.  It feels like there’s a real sense of intention at Sun Market, from the produce sourcing to the rotation of market vendors each week, so there’s always something different but a real sense of global community.  Tell us about the experience(s) you’re facilitating between vendors and community in this way?

We are intentional about our mission - the rest has been divine alignment. Columbia Drive United Methodist Church was one of our first supporters and every week they allow us to show up, use the refrigerators, store our equipment and occupy their parking lot. They also provide a warm welcome to the Sun Market community. Each week, a new vendor or reoccurring vendor shows up to share a product they grew, a food they specialize in, or a group of foods unique to their culture and life experiences. We like to say that “Our vendors reflect the diversity of this country” because it’s true!  We are so grateful for the pop-up food scene of chefs that support our mission each market. In the rain or on a hot Georgia day we fall in love each week with our neighbors (near and far) who come to our market for food and produce. After 2020 this type of gathering feels so fulfilling - here we all are - gathering together (outside), eating food from around the world, surrounded by fresh local produce and we are laughing and enjoying flavors — together. Sun Market cultivates diversity in age, ethnicity, culture, economic background and in experiences and we’ve been able to do this by aligning on a mission that uplifts and supports the community we serve and live in.

5.  What are the biggest challenges you’re facing right now in your first season as a market?

Whew. Time. I work in paid media and I have a toddler and a family. But thanks to the help of my partner and our friends and family we get things done.  

Our second biggest challenge is locating new Black farmers that are ready to sell through our market.  In my “Request for Support” letter than I share with farmers, I suggest partnering with Sun Market and the Candler Black Market, led by Neelah Hinds. I hope by offering two back-to-back markets to vend at, we can create an opportunity for our community to purchase fresh produce during the weekends.

Because I’ve had conversations with farmers and I’m aware of the lack of monetary and foundational support Black farmers receive in Georgia and nationally. I approach every new conversation to vend with grace and understanding. I’m new to the Atlanta agriculture space and there’s a lot for me to learn. I’m hopeful that in each year we will grow our partnerships with Black farmers, supporting organizations and community members who support our mission.

6. What are some positive lessons you’ve learned 3 months into managing a market?

1. Word of mouth is everything!

2. People are happy to support and show-up. 

3. Food is really the meeting point for community. 

4. Leafy greens are so sensitive! 

7.  What’s your hope for Sun Market over the next 1-2 years?

In two years, I hope to be working towards a brick and mortar location for Sun Market with standard hours. That operates as a farmers led co-op with sliding membership fees that’s located in a food desert like the one we are currently located in South DeKalb County.  

8. What are the best ways for folks to get engaged as shoppers, potential vendors, or sponsors?

·         Every Saturday (April-Sept): 11am-2pm at 2067 Columbia Drive, Decatur 30032

·         Website: eatfromthefarms.com/

·         Instagram: nstagram.com/eatfromthefarms/

·         Accepts & Doubles: SNAP/EBT

---

The Gift that Keeps Giving: Captain Planet Foundation’s Project Giving Gardens

By Yaza Sarieh

Yaza Sarieh is a contractor for Farm to School at Georgia Organics and a Childhood Health and Wellness intern at the Georgia Department of Public Health. To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit www.georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Instagram @GeorgiaOrganics, Twitter @GeorgiaOrganics, and at www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.

---

Since March 2020, food assistance in Georgia has increased almost 300% to address COVID-19 related food insecurity. To confront these unprecedented challenges, organizations within the metro-Atlanta area have partnered with the Captain Planet Foundation to develop Project Giving Gardens that cultivate and distribute produce to meet the needs of thousands of Georgia families and children.

The Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) is a non-profit organization providing small grants to fund over 2,700 schools and partners with hands-on environmental education projects, such as gardens and other farm to school projects. One of the most invaluable programs CPF supports is the Project Learning Gardens, which provides schools with onsite learning laboratories that not only teach students about agriculture and the environment, but also supply communities with local foods.

When the Pandemic began in early 2020, CPF shifted Project Learning Gardens to Project Giving Gardens to alleviate food insecurity at large. With the help of the Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Community Food Bank, CPF enlisted over 100 school gardens and 20 community gardens to utilize their space to cultivate, grow and distribute produce.

Belvedere Peace Community Garden in Decatur, Georgia participates in Project Giving Gardens. Managed by Partners in Action for Healthy Living (PAHL), the garden contributes over 50% of their plots to local food banks and donates produce to any individual in need. Despite the challenges surrounding seed procurement, volunteer engagement and increased demand for produce, the Belvedere Peace Community Garden took advantage of the resources, support systems and connections with CPF to safely and efficiently disperse fresh fruits and vegetables to more than 1,500 families.

Over the past year, Project Giving Gardens has harvested over 100,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for families hit the hardest during the Pandemic – that’s almost 450,000 servings!

Additionally, Project Giving Gardens is partnering with Georgia Organics to grow okra in 23 metro-Atlanta school gardens in anticipation of this year’s October Farm to School Month, Livin’ la Vida Okra (bit.ly/livinlavidaokra).

Check our social media pages throughout the summer to find best practices for growing okra and to watch the gardens’ progress.

And join us on June 24 at 3:00 pm for a live okra planting demo! Click here for more registration details.

Project Giving Gardens has been such a success, that CPF is hoping to expand the initiative even more throughout the course of 2021. If you’re interested in learning more about the 2021 Project Giving Gardens, visit captainplanetfoundation.org/project-giving-gardens/.

---

Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) Fills Vital Food Gaps for Students Missing School Meals in Georgia

By Caroline Croland

For families with children in Georgia, school closures this spring have significantly disrupted daily lives and caused instability. The pandemic has proven particularly devastating, however, for families who rely on free or reduced school meals to feed their children throughout the week. 

In Georgia, 1.1 million children under the age of 18 are threatened with food insecurity as a result of COVID-19 school closures.

With schools closed from March to May and uncertain re-opening plans ahead, many food-insecure families find themselves responsible for an additional ten or more meals per week per child. And while some school districts have been able to provide and distribute meals during the pandemic, many have been less able to meet the needs of their lower-income students.

But there is a new relief plan from the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) that aims to ease some of this tremendous burden on families. 

In response to the pandemic, Congress passed the Family First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, which includes a benefit called Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) for families whose children received free or reduced-price school meals in the 2019-2020 school year, but were unable to access those meals due to school closures. The purpose of this program is to provide the value of two daily school meals to children participating in that program beginning in late July. 

Photo courtesy of Wholesome Wave GA.

Georgia families with eligible children will receive benefits, via their EBT card, of up to $256.50 per child, with each household being able to apply for up to eight children.  

Courtesy of the Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children services.

---

Jennifer Owens, Senior Vice President of the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute is excited to see the program take hold in Georgia. "P-EBT is a unique opportunity that is being used throughout the county to get children access to healthy meals. This is a critical program, especially now as the recession takes hold," says Owens. 

Owens volunteers at a local food bank and encounters families who are used to relying on school meals and who are now subsisting off half a carton of eggs for the week. “The need is dire, and that is why it is so important for community organizations to get the word out about this program,” she says.

Beginning the last week in July, any family who already receives SNAP benefits will have their benefits loaded automatically to their EBT card.

Families who are on free and reduced lunch but do not participate in the SNAP program must apply through DFCS at dfcs.georgia.gov/pandemic-electronic-benefit-transfer to receive their benefits. Families will be required to enter the student’s Georgia Testing ID (GTID), also known as the student ID number, when applying for benefits. This number can be found on their child's report card or obtained from their local school district. Once an application is submitted, the cards will arrive by mail within 3-4 weeks.  

Officials are urging families to apply for these benefits as soon as possible, as the state is required to pay out these benefits until September 30. These benefits last 365 days from the time that they are issued.  

Lauren Waits, Policy Advisor at the Atlanta Community Food Bank has been working to get the word out about the program. "Food banks have seen such a dramatic increase in need due to COVID. We are working hard to convey the urgency of applying for these benefits" Waits says. "The problem is real, and we hope that families provide their information so that they can claim this money as soon as possible." 

It is important to note that in families whose children are in Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school systems--where all attending students receive meals—are automatically eligible to receive these benefits. 

It's also important to note that these benefits are available to all students receiving free and reduced lunch, regardless of citizenship status. "Congress designed this program so that the use of P-EBT will never count against the public charge requirement or hinder anyone in their path to citizenship," says Waits. 

Families receiving P-EBT benefits will be able to use these benefits wherever SNAP benefits are accepted, including select local farmers markets. “Providing families directly with SNAP benefits will give them the opportunity to go to farmers markets and stretch those dollars further while give them more diverse choices and nutritious offerings than a food pantry would typically provide,” Owens states.   

When speaking to Suzanne Girdner, who leads the Georgia Food Oasis program, she emphasizes that P-EBT relief fills a deep void in pandemic support for families:  

“This important because our families had very little support on addressing meal gaps and had to quickly come up with 10-20 additional meals a week with school closures during March-May; GA is finally recognizing and honoring these families’ challenges and provided the belated or back-dated support they needed, frankly, in Spring. This comes at a time that families undoubtedly continue to need help with school start delays and this will help them fill critical meal gaps they continue to face.” 

Girdner adds, “For us this is also a great way for families to get more nutrient dense foods via local farmers markets, produce boxes that accept and/or double SNAP which is exactly what young developing minds and bodies need to thrive.” 

---

On the topic of these benefits being applied to secure food grown by Georgia farmers and sold at Georgia farmers markets, we also spoke to Wholesome Wave GA about their critical work ensuring EBT/P-EBT dollars work doubly hard at Georgia farmers markets, nourishing SNAP shoppers with the most nutritious, locally-grown food possible.  

For this new episode of The Georgia Foodcast, we spoke to Will Sellers, Sarah Moore, and Emme Raus of Wholesome Wave Georgia about both P-EBT and their other pandemic-focused work.

Wholesome Wave GA has led the charge in ensuring that families receiving SNAP benefits—also including P-EBT participants—can double the value on their EBT cards at 68 different farmers markets across Georgia throughout the Georgia Fresh for Less program. They also provide direct, personal help for those applying for SNAP benefits for the first time, which has included a huge influx of Georgians with jobs eliminated or furloughed due to the COVID-19 economic recession. For more information on first-time application to the SNAP, click here. 

Click below for the full conversation.  

Kimberly Della Donna, Georgia Organics’ Farm to School Director, accurately summarized how this pandemic relief is vital for both families and will also help farmers, and can hopefully foster connection during this challenging time:

"P-EBT is a critical strategy to support students nutrition during COVID-related school closures. We're especially excited about the option families have to use the benefit at local farmers markets and farm stands, where they can support small farmers, make community connections and learn about Georgia's local food and agriculture systems."

If you do not already receive SNAP benefits and seek to learn more and apply for P-EBT, visit dfcs.georgia.gov/pandemic-electronic-benefit-transfer. For additional COVID-19 information for Georgia families and individuals, visit gafcp.org/coronavirus/. 

---

Caroline Croland is the Fundraising Coordinator at Georgia Organics. To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit www.georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Instagram @GeorgiaOrganics, Twitter @GeorgiaOrganics, and at www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.  

Olivia Amos of Bare Roots Champions "Food as Medicine" in Columbus

On the latest Georgia Foodcast, Skye Estroff spoke to Olivia Amos with Bare Roots about their amazing work feeding Columbus and championing the concept of “Food As Medicine” during the pandemic. During these daunting times, Olivia and the team have maintained their commitment to serving Columbus, a Georgia Food Oasis community, with the freshest, healthiest food.

Tune in below to learn more.

While every day requires pivoting to adjust to the ever-changing pandemic landscape, Amos and her team have not stopped serving.

They now offer pickup and delivery of family meals at Bare Roots Bibb Cafe & Catering (follow to learn more & order), while also delivering meals for MercyMed Columbus patients and kicking off amazing campaigns like Nourish Columbus:

“#NourishColumbus is a campaign started by Columbus Botanical Garden that gives you an opportunity to donate produce from the CBG garden to Bare Roots for us to turn into healthy prepared meals for our neighbors at Truth Spring Academy in North Highland, who are food insecure.

…Showing compassion, kindness and love through food is where our heart is.”

- via @eatbarerootsbibb

To learn more about Bare Roots Bibb Cafe & Catering, visit www.eatbareroots.com/ and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. For more information and to support the Nourish Columbus, DM the Columbus Botanical Garden on Instagram @columbus_botanical_garden.

Donated produce via Columbus Botanical Garden (Courtesy Bare Roots Bibb Facebook)

Preparing and packing medically-tailored meals for MercyMed Columbus (Courtesy Bare Roots Bibb Facebook)

Georgia Food Oasis Awards “Mobilizing Food Funds” Mini-Grants to Coalitions across the State

By Caroline Croland

Georgia Food Oasis seeks to convene and engage local leaders to address their community’s food access issues.

Now more than ever, these local markets and good food organizations are providing essential access points to food insecure communities across Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABOUT THE GEORGIA FOOD OASIS

The Georgia Food Oasis (GFO) is a growing network of towns and cities that recognize food is a powerful tool for driving positive change in their communities. GFO is a designation that seeks to recognize local food coalitions who are working to improve access, supply, and consumption of healthy local food.

In May, the program awarded $22,700 in mini-grants to 10 recipients dedicated to serving the rapidly shifting needs of their communities bought on by the COVID-19 pandemic by mobilizing the distribution of locally-farmed food. 

Suzanne Girdner, Georgia Organics Community Outreach Manager, leads the program and says of the Mobilizing Food Funds Mini-Grant funding:

“What I am still processing about this latest grant round is just the tremendous amount of need that the communities were seeing firsthand and trying to figure out how to respond as best we could. The level of gratitude and care that they have taken for their neighbors and residents — it really impresses me.

These organizations from across Georgia provide innovative solutions to food scarcity caused by the pandemic. In doing so, they have made it a priority to actively shift the emergency food relief paradigm away from providing only shelf stable, prepackaged food towards fresh, nutrient dense fruits and vegetables sourced from local farms.

It is incredible to be able to work alongside somebody and say ‘I recognize how hard you're working, and we want to support you,’ and we can do that in a material way.”

Georgia Food Oasis began in 2016. One of the fiscal goals of the program is to provide small grants for coalitions and residents within communities. These non-traditional funds allow residents to respond in real time to community needs without being over burdened by a tedious application process.

The Mobilizing Food Funds Mini-Grant Awardees are listed below, where you can learn more and connect with the amazing work they’re doing within their communities.

To learn more about the Georgia Food Oasis, visit gfo.georgiaorganics.org/.

MOBILIZING FOOD FUNDS AWARDEES

SAVANNAH ($5,000)

1. The Farm Truck 912, Forsyth Farmers Market is a mobile market that brings locally sourced produce to Chatham County’s low income, low food access neighborhoods. Funds will also assist in piloting a new home delivery service for elders and differently-abled individuals, who are among the most food insecure members of the community.  A portion of the funds will help with increased personnel hours, materials, and sourcing from 25 whole food vendors.     

2. Fresh Food Express, The YMCA of Coastal Georgia is part of Healthy Savannah’s CDC REACH strategy YMCA and hosts a bi-monthly produce donation market which has nearly doubled participants since the pandemic. Funds will be used to assist with sourcing fresh food from regional growers for 600 residents in a newly adapted drive-thru market. 

The Farm Truck 912, Forsyth Farmers Market.

Fresh Food Express, The YMCA of Coastal Georgia

WAYCROSS ($2,500)

WayGreen, Inc. in Waycross

WayGreen, Inc. provides healthy locally produced food to people living in the region of Southeast Georgia. The market has transitioned to a weekly online market with participating farmers from 6 surrounding counties. Funds will go towards supporting transportation needed to source from a larger more rural region between Nashville and Brunswick, GA.  Plans include retrofitting a trailer for cold storage transport and safe storage at market. A portion of the funds will also assist with the additional personnel hours in coordinating weekly logistics with 18+ regional farmers.

AUGUSTA ($4,900)

1. Augusta Locally Grown is an online market that supports small farmers by making locally grown produce available for sale to the surrounding Augusta community. The online market has nearly quadrupled in sales and pick up locations are having to adapt to handle the influx of orders. These funds will be used to help open new pick-up site at Ft. Gordon, and new markets in Columbia and Warren counties, and will increase sales of the 40 farmers that the ALG market supports.

2. The Veggie Park Farmers Market serves a low income, low food access neighborhood, Harrisburg in downtown Augusta.  After a postponed opening the market is reopening with advanced precaution due to a higher elderly and at-risk population in the neighborhood.  Funds will assist with adapting the market, piloting home delivery, and offsetting additional personnel hours needed to safely serve the neighborhood. This market directly supports 15+ farmers.

COLUMBUS ($2,500)

MercyMed Farm is an urban farm at MercyMed in the North Highland neighborhood of Columbus. The farm has been giving away all of their farm-grown produce to neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity and transportation issues, exacerbated by the pandemic. Previously the farm ran weekly markets and a farm stand but shifted to donation due to resident needs. These funds will be used to offset loss of some income assist with providing fresh fruits and vegetables to community members in need during this time.

MercyMed Farm

ROME ($5,300)

1. Between the Rivers Farmers Market is organizing a drive-thru and/or contactless market for its community in Rome. These funds will specifically help the market improve visibility in the community with additional signage.

2. The South Meadow Farm at the Davies Shelter will start supplementing donation food boxes of non-perishable items with 5 lbs of produce beginning in June. Funds will assist in providing produce to 400 boxes.

The South Meadow Farm at the Davies Shelter

The Farm Bus at Davies Shelter

3.  The Farm Bus at Davies Shelter was originally intended to serve the surrounding neighborhood of the Shelter as a mobile market, it has expanded since the pandemic to serve five additional neighborhoods and clients for partners Salvation Army and The Community Kitchen. Funds will be used to assist with additional operational and logistical expenses. 

WALTON COUNTY ($2,500)

The Mobile Farmacy Market, Walton Wellness is a free member-based market for financially-burdened families in Walton County. Due to the pandemic, they are 100% dependent on their garden, community garden donations and a local farm where they purchase eggs. These funds will go towards sourcing from local farms to provide produce to the community through the Mobile Farmacy.

The Mobile Farmacy Market, Walton Wellness

---

Caroline Croland is the Fundraising Coordinator at Georgia Organics. To learn more about Georgia Organics, visit www.georgiaorganics.org and follow us on Instagram @GeorgiaOrganics, Twitter @GeorgiaOrganics, and at www.Facebook.com/GeorgiaOrganics.