Launched by Food Tank and the James Beard Foundation, the first annual Good Food Org Guide identifies and celebrates more than five hundred United States-based groups who are cultivating a better food system, including these ten from Missouri:
After the Harvest is a Kansas City, MO nonporift organization that collects excess produce from farmers’ fields and donates it to community members in need. After the Harvest is volunteer-driven and engages the community in building a more sustainable and just food system.
The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture
The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture is based in Columbia, MO. The center focuses on developing a healthy and active community by providing nutritious, healthy food grown in local gardens.
Cultivate Kansas City is an urban agriculture organization with a mission to “grow food, farms, and communities for a healthy, local food system.” They operate the two-acre organic Gibbs Road Farm and community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, where they train future farmers and work with the community to advocate for increased food access and urban farming.
EarthDance is a nonprofit sustainable agriculture organization that operates an Organic Farm School on the historic Mueller Farm. EarthDance has an apprenticeship program that allows young farmers to gain valuable experience in agriculture; it also runs its own CSA program.
The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition
The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition works to leverage institutional purchasing of local foods in order to support local food production, and eventually increase the accessibility of local food retailers in underserved communities. The coalition aims to make healthy, affordable, and nourishing food accessible to residents of Kansas City, MO.
Harvesters: the Community Food Network
Harvesters: the Community Food Network is seeking to end hunger by collecting and distributing food to those in need, and by providing educational programs that increase awareness of hunger. The organization provides food to nearly 68,000 people each week.
Healthy Living Alliance has convened a network of individuals and organizations dedicated to fostering a culture of healthy living in Springfield, MO. The organization engages in farm-to-school programs, healthy eating initiatives, and participatory urban planning efforts to make local infrastructure more conducive to healthy living and active lifestyles.
Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security
Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security is a University of Missouri-based research group that partners with community organizations. The Center performs research on food pantries, and has completed one of the largest regional food pantry household surveys in the country. The Center also created the Missouri Hunger Atlas, a visual aid that showcases the extent of food insecurity in each of Missouri’s counties.
The Missouri Organic Association
The Missouri Organic Association is an association of farmers, chefs, health professionals, and others who want to increase access to healthy food. They aim to educate consumers on organic products, and support farmers in obtaining organic certification.
Urban Harvest STL promotes the cultivation of healthy, sustainable food in the city of St. Louis, MO. By turning unused city spaces into urban gardens, Urban Harvest STL envisions a healthy, environmentally conscious city community.
