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<p>The objectives of this grant are as follows </p>
<p>1) To increase the availability of fresh and locally grown foods in urban regions and communities. </p>
<p>2) To increase knowledge in food health and nutrition's in diverse and underserved communities. </p>
<p>3) To expand economic opportunities to diverse and underserved populations in urban and rural communities. </p>
<p>4) To exposed agricultural skills to as risk teens and young adults to increase their marketability in the workplace. Along with improving reading and math skills, the program will inculcate positive attitudes, increase disciplines and provide employment opportunities to participants </p>
<p>5) To provide solid agriscience education and experiential learning to stimulate interest in science-based agricultural, programs for youth between the ages of eleven and fourteen. This well be done through an annual agri science and technology summer camp programs.</p>
<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: <br/>This project seeks to expand sustainable agribusiness opportunities to a diverse and multicultural clientele in urban and rural communities. Delaware State University Cooperative extension will address needs such as; local and urban food production and availability, food safety, food health and nutrition, entrepreneurial development, value added products, direct marketing, and careers in agriculture and community development. The objectives of this grant are as follows 1) To increase the availability of fresh and locally grown foods in urban regions and communities. Thus Delaware State University will assist in the development, and management of sustainable farms and gardens, located in close proximity to highly populated areas 2) To increase knowledge in food health and nutrition's in diverse and underserved communities. Extension education
will illustrate nutritional breakdown of locally grown produce and the health benefits that can be derived from them. 3) To expand economic opportunities to diverse and underserved populations in urban and rural communities. Participants will benefits for education programs in record keeping, business planning, value added products and marketing 4) To exposed agricultural skills to as risk teens and young adults to increase their marketability in the workplace. Along with improving reading and math skills, the program will inculcate positive attitudes, increase disciplines and provide employment opportunities to participants 5) To provide solid agriscience education and experiential learning to stimulate interest in science-based agricultural, programs for youth between the ages of eleven and fourteen. This well be done through an annual agri science and technology summer camp programs.
The program will comprise of lab work, classroom actives and field activities.<p>
APPROACH: <br/>A total of 15 workshops will be held in the urban community to cover a myriad of topics including agriculture production food and nutrition and micro enterprises.These workshops will also have practical components attached to them The Program Director (PD) willdirectthe planning, implementation, and evaluation of these workshops.Faculty and specialist in Cooperative Extension and the College ofAgricultureat Delaware State University and Delaware Center forEnterprise Developmentwill be coreproject team that will developthe programs for this project. the technical staff and undergraduate students paid by the project,will assist the PI to identify sites, and dates forplanned extension events,contact speakers, track prospective participants, and prepare workshops sites for the implementation of workshops. In addition PD, technical staff, and undergraduate
students will make schedule visits to urban farms and gardens to provide technical advice and outreach assistance to the community. The project will work with partners toplan and coordinates project efforts in an efficiant manner. Curriculum development will be led by the PD and include faculty and staff from Delaware State University, USDA specialist collaborations and partners. Participants will be individuals or organizations whom are interesteddeveloping healthy eating habits through local food production, and are also eager to expand business opportunities to generate income and provide employment to people in the community. They youth are a vital compononent of the targetaudience Topics to be covered in the workshops will address fruits and vegetables production, soil testing, planning the farm and gaden, value added products,food safety, micro business enterprise, food and
nutrition, production factors that affect marketing, agricultural careers, and developing the urban community.</p>