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St. Louis County Council approves $3.2 million for Rustic Roots and network of North County farms
Summary
After more than an hour of public testimony, the St. Louis County Council voted 7-0 to pass substitute bill 1 for bill 54, a measure tied to ARPA food-security funding that backers say will expand local farming, create a harvest hub and provide fresh food to North County residents.
The St. Louis County Council on Tuesday voted 7-0 to pass substitute bill 1 for bill 54, advancing a plan supporters say will expand local farming infrastructure in North County and provide fresh food to residents.
Backers, including Councilwoman Webb and dozens of public commenters who spoke during a lengthy public forum, asked the council to use previously set-aside ARPA funding to support Rustic Root Sanctuary and a network of small farms. Janet Lewis, founder and executive director of Rustic Root Sanctuary, told the council that the community had already been working toward food security and urged passage: “We have a solution, and we’ve been working that solution,” she said.
Supporters framed the proposal as a three-part effort: funding for a harvest hub (a shared facility for washing, packing and cold storage), capacity development for small farmers, and direct distribution that would expand programs such as senior food bags and school-…
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