Mississippi has some of the richest soil in the country. Over 30% of the state is farmland. Yet nearly 20% of its population is food insecure, including 1 in 4 children.

This paradox didn’t happen by chance. Less than 1% of the 10.4 million acres of farmland in Mississippi are devoted to fruits and vegetables. The overwhelming majority of crops grown are “cash crops” like cotton, soybeans, rice and corn. These are crops that are exported for profit.

As a result, Mississippi imports most of its produce, making it more expensive for its residents. Price is just one of the barriers to getting produce. Given the rural nature of the state, many residents have to travel 60 miles round trip to the nearest grocery store.

All these factors have created an endless cycle of food insecurity and poor health outcomes that local farmers and food entrepreneurs are now trying to break.

At Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), we are proud to support farmers and food entrepreneurs through Rootswell, a grassroots movement in the Mississippi Delta dedicated to increasing fresh, affordable, local food. Rooted in community, Rootswell is uniting farmers, chefs, corner stores, farmers markets, creatives, and organizers to transform the region’s food landscape.

Another way that PHA is supporting food access in the Mississippi Delta is through GROW, an initiative that supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) food entrepreneurs who are harnessing the power of produce to create a local good food economy. A good food economy builds health and wealth for the community by promoting the sale and consumption of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.

Through GROW, PHA is awarding grants to six food and civic entrepreneurs to help them get more good food into their communities.

While we’re starting this work in the Mississippi Delta, where a grassroots food system revolution is already underway, our plan is to expand to more communities across the country, to help them grow their local food economies.

Meet the 2024 GROW Grant Recipients

But God Ministries

But God Ministries is an organization that’s dedicated to building sustainable communities across the world and has been operating in Jonestown, MS since 2017. They have built housing, medical clinics, schools, and a community center, and are now investing in agriculture. They’re planning to use their GROW grant to buy farm equipment to increase the production of fruits and vegetables in Jonestown.

Happy Foods Project

Happy Foods Project is an “agripreneurship” initiative that is dedicated to cultivating a thriving, sustainable agricultural ecosystem in Mississippi by promoting fresh, local, sustainably grown products. Located in Marks, MS, they help local farmers distribute the produce they grow and will be using their GROW grant to buy a refrigerated van that will serve as a mobile farmers’ market.

Delta Blues Camp hosted by Young Family Farm

The Young Family Farm is a 20-acre farm in Clarksdale, MS that is being transformed into a cultural and educational hub for the Delta Blues Camp, a camp where youth can reconnect with their heritage and learn about music, food, and science. They’re using their GROW grant to develop a curriculum to teach youth about the importance of agriculture. The camp will happen alongside Clarksdale’s Juke Joint Festival on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

Tulane MB Church

Tulane MB Church is a community church that provides a range of social services to residents of Yazoo City, MS. They’ve operated a food pantry for many years and plan to use their GROW grant to open a community garden and distribute nutritious food.

Tri-Delta Agriculture Cooperative

Tri-Delta Agriculture Cooperative is a tri-state co-op that is dedicated to aggregating and distributing fruits and vegetables across Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. They plan to use their GROW grant to retrofit a trailer and transform it into a mobile market that will serve residents of Coahoma and neighboring counties.

Delta Hands for Hope

Delta Hands for Hope is a local nonprofit that’s focused on uplifting youth and families through health, education, and recreational activities. They offer youth leadership programs and summer camps and plan to use their GROW grant to offer healthier after-school meals.