Healthy Communities Coalition

Since 2010, Healthy Communities Coalition has strategically worked towards improving our area’s food system. We began developing a food hub by connecting local, state, and federal agencies, tribal groups, farmers, businesses, and community volunteers around the goal of creating an affordable, accessible and fair food system that bolsters our local agriculture economy, provides for residents in need, builds demand for locally grown foods, and creates a sustainable source of healthy food.

HCC works cooperatively with Lyon County Schools to implement school gardens throughout the county. Staff work collaboratively with administrators, teachers, and local farmers to provide garden education, promote healthy eating, and develop a knowledge and appreciation among students of the local food system and food production. Gardens serve as an extension of the classroom and reinforce traditional school subjects while providing experiential learning around food cultivation, ecology, and sustainability.

The Coalition hosts two farmers markets with the goals of providing local farmers and cottage food producers a venue to market their products and enabling local families to obtain affordable, locally grown and produced goods. Our farmers markets accept SNAP benefits and are working on innovative ways to stretch food budgets for families who are recipients of food assistance.