City of Gainesville - File #: 090462.

• File #: 090462.
• Version: 0
• Name: Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) and the Citizen's Cooperative of Gainesville (Co-op) Presentation (B)
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: Filed
• File created: 10/15/2009
• In control: City Manager
• Final action: 10/15/2009
• Title: Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) and the Citizen's Cooperative of Gainesville (Co-op) Presentation (B) This item involves a request to the City Commission to hear a presentation from the Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) and the Citizen's Cooperative of Gainesville (Co-op) on how to reduce hunger, promote community gardens and encourage local residents to purchase foods grown in Alachua County.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/15/2009	0	City Commission	Heard

Title
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) and the Citizen's Cooperative of Gainesville (Co-op) Presentation (B)

This item involves a request to the City Commission to hear a presentation from the Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) and the Citizen's Cooperative of Gainesville (Co-op) on how to reduce hunger, promote community gardens and encourage local residents to purchase foods grown in Alachua County.

Explanation
On July 2, 2009, the City Commission directed staff to contact the Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) and the Citizen's Cooperative of Gainesville (Co-op) to request a presentation on how the City can reduce hunger, promote community gardens within the City, and encourage local residents to purchase foods grown in Alachua County.

Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on May 25, 1989. For nearly 20 years, FOG has been educating growers, consumers, and citizens about on-going and sustainable agriculture including community gardens. Community gardens are normally divided into two areas; one for herbs and one for vegetables.

The City of Gainesville has been funding FOG over the last two (2) years to help promote and establish community gardens in targeted areas within the city as a way of providing fresh vegetables and promoting nutritional education to low and low to moderate income households. In FY09, FOG established approximately 22 community gardens within the City.

In addition, the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department has established 5 community gardens within the City's park system to educate the public about sustainable agriculture and about the history of our community.

Citizen's Co-op is a legal entity in the State of Florida that is structured to operate as a Co-operative association. The aim of the Co-op is to establish a natural food market in Gainesville, Florida that i...