New Britain ROOTS

ROOTS was formed to promote food justice in New Britain by addressing food insecurity and by creating garden-based and nutrition education programs for youth and adults. Through our incentives program, ROOTS, has doubled access to whole foods for low-income consumers by distributing vouchers that add additional value to SNAP, WIC, and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons. Through our Mobile Market Assistance Program, ROOTS brings produce from Urban Oaks Organic Farm to low-income neighborhoods to set up a farm stand and offer our incentive program for shoppers.

ROOTS also partners with New Britain schools to develop school gardens. We offer technical assistance for schools to maintain the gardens, while also developing the gardens through afterschool programs. Our “Urban Farmer” curriculum has been developed over 7 years and is taught in three after school programs, which each utilize their school garden as a teaching tool. ROOTS hosts field trips to Urban Oaks Organic Farm for many local schools and scouting groups. We oversee the summer youth employment program, which employs 16 high schoolers for 6 weeks in the summer for an intensive farm and marketing internship.