School Garden Blitz
Albany, GA – It’s a new school year, and Flint River Fresh is digging into new growing seasons in Dougherty County Schools’ elementary school gardens! With all of the fun and excitement in the gardens comes more volunteer opportunities– Flint River Fresh has 2 volunteer days scheduled during the “School Garden Blitz”. Volunteers are needed to help remove overgrowth and weeds from the summer months and prepare for fall cover crops and seasonal vegetables. Help make the teaching gardens ready to grow young minds through interactive agriculture and conservation lessons! “Promoting healthy eating and the importance of local agriculture is vital to the future of kids in our community,” says Jordan Parker, Flint River Fresh’s School Garden Coordinator, “and our volunteers make that possible in every way, big or small.” Learn more about the School Garden Blitz Volunteer Days and our 22/23 DOCO School Gardens plans in the full press release.
Fresh Start Giveaway
Albany, GA – Flint River Fresh w/Farmer Fredo inspires and equips the community to grow food for themselves and neighbors in need. The Fall Fresh Start Giveaway, hosted by Flint River Fresh, is a food gardening resource community event happening Saturday, September 10th beginning at 10AM. Individuals, families, and school or community garden groups can pick up free transplants, seeds, and compost at the Hope Center, 925 Pine Avenue in Albany.
This giveaway offers a variety of transplants and seeds including collards, turnips, beets, carrots, bush beans, and more on a first-come, first-served basis for individuals and families. All community members are welcome!
Community garden groups must submit a pre-order form by September 7th at www.flintriverfresh.org/new-events. The order form is for community garden groups only. Learn more in the full press release.
Flint River Fresh w/Farmer Fredo Presents Food Gardening Workshops for the Fall Season
Albany, GA – Flint River Fresh w/Farmer Fredo is offering food gardening workshops to the community in the outdoor garden classroom at the 5th Avenue / Phoebe Community Garden from July 23rd to November 5th. Fredando Jackson, Executive Director of Flint River Fresh and also known as Farmer Fredo, will teach the fundamentals of growing seasonal fruit and vegetables in the southwest Georgia region. Participants will gain hands-on gardening instructions for growing some traditional southern favorites along with a variety of newer garden options. All workshops are free and open to the public. Get more details from the Press Release.
Fresh, Locally Grown Strawberries and Blueberries in Dougherty County Schools Meals During Testing Weeks
Albany, GA – April and May have been “berry” good months for our local Dougherty County students. Georgia Grown Strawberries provided an extra boost of nutrition in Dougherty County School System’s cafeteria meals to support cognitive health and to prepare students for state testing.
Flint River Fresh partnered with Beyond Harvest Foods and Dougherty County Schools School Nutrition Services to bring 3,150 pounds of Georgia Grown Strawberries from Dickey Farms in Musella, GA to all 22 Schools in the Dougherty County School System, in efforts to encourage a sustainable, local food system, and to introduce students to produce that is grown in their own region.
“Increasing the level of healthy foods students consume may help with students' test scores,'' states Blaine Allen, Director of School Nutrition with DCSS. While students were able to enjoy fresh strawberries with their school lunches all throughout April and May, School Nutrition’s main focus was to serve fresh, locally grown produce during testing weeks, which occurred through the end of April and beginning of May. Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds.… Mr. Allen goes on to add, “also, when the School Nutrition Department can purchase fresh Strawberries & Blueberries from a local, Georgia Gown, Farmer, we reduce our carbon footprint.” Read the full Press Release for more details.
Dougherty County Farm-to-School Hosts Student Taste Tests
Albany, GA – Three hundred students and teachers between International Studies Elementary Charter School and Radium Springs Elementary School participated in a strawberry kale smoothie taste test in their school gardens thanks to Flint River Fresh’s Farm to School program in partnership with the Dougherty County School System Department of School Nutrition. Through this Farm to School and Youth Agriculture Education initiative, students receive unique learning experiences and great opportunities to be a part of the food production process for school meals and taste tests. Moreso, elementary school students (especially those living in food deserts) gain lifelong benefits from learning how to grow food themselves. The strawberry kale smoothies provided to students and teachers at these two schools proved a great example to show students a nutritious and delicious recipe to utilize the produce grown in their own school gardens– both the strawberries and the kale. Read more about this delicious event in the full Press Release.
Flint River Fresh Celebrates Earth Day with Buckets of Compost and Plants Giveaway
Albany, GA – In celebration of Earth Day, Flint River Fresh will host a Buckets of Compost and Plants Giveaway at the 5th Avenue Phoebe Community Garden in Albany on Friday, April 22nd.
Beginning at 2:00 p.m. until supplies run out, residents of Albany and Dougherty County can drive-up, take a bucket, fill it with organic compost, and select a tomato, pepper (hot, sweet, or bell), cucumber, squash, or okra plant to enrich home gardens. Supplies are limited - first come, first served.
“Optimal community health happens from the ground up! Keeping the earth healthy while growing healthy food for ourselves is a win-win.” says Fredando Jackson, Executive Director of Flint River Fresh. Read the press release in its entirety.
In partnership with the City of Albany, Flint River Fresh Launches Fresh Start Program with 100 Free Fresh Start Garden Kits
Albany, GA – Flint River Fresh launched its Fresh Start program in partnership with the City of Albany Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and a 100 Fresh Start Garden Kits Giveaway. The food garden kits include four seedlings and four seed packets that include vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Each kit contains enough seeds and seedlings to fill a 4X8 garden space, and a growing guide at no cost to income eligible City of Albany residents. “The City of Albany DCED is excited to enter into this partnership with Flint River Fresh to assist in providing access to fresh, affordable, and healthy food for our community,” said John D. Hawthorne Jr., the City of Albany’s Director Department of Community and Economic Development. Learn more in the full Press Release.
International Studies Elementary Charter School's From Teaching Garden to Cafeteria Program Is A Huge Success!
Albany, GA -- Flint River Fresh’s Farm to School program in partnership with the DCSS department of School Nutrition and their partners of excellence has had remarkable success and growth at International Studies Elementary Charter School this school year. Read all about it in the Press Release.
Flint River Fresh Offers Free Food Gardening Virtual Workshops
Albany, GA - 1/26/22 - Flint River Fresh, Inc. offers free DIY Food Gardening Virtual Workshops Fridays on Zoom at Noon! Starting January 28th, the virtual gardening education series with Fredando, AKA Farmer Fredo, gives the community more confidence to grow food where they live with expert guidance and proven techniques. Participants can gain the knowledge base, and skills for building a sustainable food garden at home or in small green spaces through the urban farming inspired workshops. Learn more in the full Press Release.
Flint River Fresh 2022 MLK Day of Service
Albany, GA — 1/07/2022 —Flint River Fresh, along with community food champions, continues to answer the call to action to keep healthy food growing in food deserts during the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Flint River Fresh leads community gardens expansion, installation, or revitalization activities scheduled for Holley Homes Community Garden in Albany and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Boys & Girls Club in Plains on January 15th and 17th, respectively. Additional details about these community garden activities and more volunteer service happenings are available in the Press Release.
Georgia's Mrs. United States Agriculture Supports Youth Ag & Conservation Education Initiative
Albany, Ga - Jordon Parker, School Garden Coordinator for Flint River Fresh, is ecstatic and honored to announce that Georgia's Mrs. United States Agriculture is attending Volunteer Day with DOCO's school garden team! Recently crowned Mrs. Paula Lewis will plant with students at International Studies Elementary Charter School on Tuesday, November 9th, supporting Flint River Fresh's Youth Agriculture & Conservation Education initiative with DCSS Department of School Nutrition Services. Learn more in the full press release.
Flint River Fresh Farm-to-School Month Celebrations
Albany, GA - A week-long planting celebration will take place at seven of Dougherty County Elementary Schools throughout the last week of October to help close out Farm to School month. Students at Radium Springs Elementary, Turner Elementary, Robert H. Harvey Elementary, Northside Elementary, Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, Magnolia Early Childhood Education Center, and Morningside Elementary will have the opportunity to plant delicious Fall veggies. Flint River Fresh, along with the Dougherty County School Nutrition Department and their Partners of Excellence volunteers, will be teaching students about raised bed gardening and where their food comes throughout the week. We are also looking forward to inviting our city commissioners and state representatives to be a part of the fun! Full Press Release
Flint River Fresh Launches
2022 Capital Campaign
Following the June 3rd Board meeting in Albany, Flint River Fresh officially launched their 2022 Capital Campaign, an annual organizational effort to engage local businesses in supporting the ongoing work of Flint River Fresh.
The campaign was launched with a special recognition from the Braves Foundation, naming Executive Director Fredando Jackson and Flint River Fresh a 2021 Community Heroes recipient and awarding a $5,000 donation to Flint River Fresh.
McLendon Acres, Inc. and Flint Equipment Company soon followed suit, each committing an additional $5,000 in support of Flint River Fresh programming. An anonymous donor has also pledged $10,000 in support of Flint River Fresh.
After forgoing the 2021 Capital Campaign following the COVID-19 pandemic that severely impacted southwest Georgia and local businesses and economies, Flint River Fresh is thrilled to continue impact across Albany and southwest Georgia with the support of local businesses.
“Our community has done so much to support the work of Flint River Fresh, that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic 2020 was about making sure we could give back to our local community through our COVID response program,” says Marty McLendon, Chairman of Flint River Fresh.
If you are interested in supporting Flint River Fresh through the 2022 Capital Campaign, please reach out to info@flintriverfresh.org with more information. More information is available in the full press release.
Visit www.flintriverfresh.org.
Farmer Fredo of Flint River Fresh Receives Atlanta Braves 2021 Community Hero Award
June 14, 2021—Albany, GA During the Flint River Fresh board meeting on June 2, the Atlanta Braves Foundation announced Executive Director Fredando Jackson and Flint River Fresh as a recipient the 2021 Community Heroes Award. The Flint River Fresh Board of Directors was thrilled to invite Atlanta Braves, players, Bally Sports south broadcasters, Braves Foundation representatives and Jackson’s friends and family to virtually join the board meeting for the special presentation.
Bally Sports South broadcaster Chip Caray presented the honor to Jackson. Braves pitcher Max Fried also joined the call to offer congratulations. Family, partners, and colleagues were invited to share congratulations of the recognition of Jackson and his work through Flint River Fresh. Full Press Release
Flint River Fresh Continues Work to Support Community Health, Vaccination
March 22, 2021
Albany, GA — On March 22, Flint River Fresh Executive Director Fredando “Farmer Fredo” Jackson was pleased to join Albany leaders and citizens in receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.
Flint River Fresh, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, aims to increase the availability of fresh produce and instill healthy eating habits through community farm sites and youth engagement.
“Community health underlies the entire mission of Flint River Fresh,” says Chairman Marty McLendon. “When the COVID-19 pandemic devastated Albany and southwest Georgia, we recognized the importance of addressing community needs during the pandemic as key to a holistic approach to community health.”
“Our organization’s mission is to better effect health outcomes through encouraging healthy choices and greater access to fresh foods and vegetables. So many of the people that we serve have underlying health conditions and have been living in fear. Vaccinations not only help protect those that are most vulnerable, but further allow us to better serve those that are in most need of our services” says Executive Director Fredando Jackson. “I’m excited to take the necessary steps to protect my family and my community from COVID-19.”
Flint River Fresh Grows Good Food Throughout The Good Life City
March 11, 2021
Albany, GA - Flint River Fresh is growing good food throughout the Good Life City through fruitful partnerships. Wednesday, March 31st is Planting Day with Flint River Fresh in Dougherty County. The day of community volunteer gardening activities begins at J. C. Odom, Jr. Fitness and Wellness Center at 10:30 am. The afternoon activities will start at 2:00 pm at The Arc of Southwest Georgia. Planting days with Flint River Fresh are opportunities for the community to help make every household food secure and gain do-it-yourself gardening skills.
Learn more about Planting Day with Flint River Fresh and how to sign-up to volunteer in the press release.
Flint River Fresh Leads Community Engagement for Dougherty Fresh
March 1, 2021
Albany, GA — Today at the Dougherty County Commission Meeting, Flint River Fresh joined Dougherty County leadership to spotlight the Dougherty Fresh initiative launched in November 2020 with funding through the Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge.
Program highlights shared at the March 1 meeting include a new collaboration with Veggie & Soul, a twelve-week nutrition and health intervention program directed by local doctors.
Fredando Jackson, Flint River Fresh Executive Director, "Our main goal is to bring fresh, affordable food choices to communities that don't have regular access. We are looking to connect with organizations that are already doing the work, especially on the South and East side of Albany."
Read more in the press release.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Flint River Fresh Prepares School Garden Sites for Spring Planting
January 12, 2021
From September - December of 2020, Flint River Fresh’s Executive Director, Fredando Jackson, and School Garden Coordinator, Jordan Parker, teamed up with Dougherty County School System’s Nutrition department’s Partners of Excellence to renovate existing and build new raised garden beds at the three pilot elementary schools. Currently, Radium Springs has 12 raised beds that have been prepped and planted to support Albany’s Feeding the Valley. Robert H. Harvey now has 4 additional new double stacked raised garden beds, totaling the school garden to 10 raised beds, and Turner Elementary has 10 newly renovated double stacked beds. Cold crop planting, including lettuce, broccoli, kale, and collards, will take place at the schools towards the end of January, leading into Spring planting in February and March.
Read more in the press release.
Flint River Fresh Grows Partnership With The Dougherty County Schools System through USDA-FNS Grant
August 30, 2020
ALBANY, GA – Flint River Fresh was among the esteemed 2020 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Farm to School Grant awardees. The planning grant, entitled “From School Garden to Cafeteria.”
“The Garden-to-Cafeteria Program gives students real-world experience in feeding their community by growing fruits and vegetables that will be served in their school cafeteria,” says Fredando Jackson, Executive Director of Flint River Fresh.
Read more in the Press Release
Dougherty County, Flint River Fresh, and UGA Extension Service awarded $100,000 Aetna Foundation grant to advance health equity in Dougherty County
July 24, 2020
DOUGHERTY COUNTY, GA – Dougherty County has announced its selection to receive a grant as part of the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, a program funded by the Aetna Foundation, together with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), supporting communities that are changing the way they work together across sectors to reduce disparities in chronic disease outcomes.
“The end goal is to go into areas that are food deserts with limited access to healthy food choices and help establish more community garden spaces and develop local community champions by providing tools and resources they need to make an impact where they live,” said Fredando (“Farmer Fredo”) Jackson, Executive Director of Flint River Fresh. “We are working with local government to create policies and economic opportunities to bring fresh food into our local communities.”
Read more in the Press Release
Flint River Fresh Produce Box Program in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Continues with Community Support
May 22, 2020
Albany, Georgia — The Produce Box Program launched by Flint River Fresh on April 4th in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing its community impact. Success has propelled the initial 14-day long pilot program into its seventh week of operation. To date, more than 700 fresh produce boxes and 430 locally sourced hot meals have been delivered in Dougherty and Lee County.
“On behalf of Los Vaqueros, we want to thank you for supporting hospital staff,” says Supreeya Lopez, an owner of El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant and Los Vasqueros in Albany, who selected Phoebe ICU nurse staff as recipients of the program. “Thank you so much for supporting local restaurants”
Read more in the Press Release
Flint River Fresh Extends Produce Box Program in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
April 15, 2020
Albany, Georgia — Flint River Fresh has announced a minimum two week extension to the Produce Box Pilot Program launched April 4th in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The initial 14-day long pilot program was extended after positive feedback and additional support from local businesses.
“The gesture of providing a hot meal and fresh produce to those who have been impacted, isolated from family, have experienced lost wages, and who have been on the front lines of this response has meant more than we could’ve anticipated.” - Fredando Jackson, Executive Director of Flint River Fresh.
Flint River Fresh Launches Pilot Produce Box Program In Response To COVID-19 Pandemic
April 4, 2020
Albany, Georgia — Flint River Fresh is working alongside private, small businesses in Albany to serve residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the launch of a pilot Produce Box Program . Flint River Fresh, with generous support from an anonymous locally owned business, has committed to covering the costs to serve a hot meal to community members in need, and provide each with a produce box to take home.
“Now more than ever we see a need in our community for access to healthy, fresh produce,” says Fredando Jackson, Executive Director of Flint River Fresh. “While we’ve shifted our primary activities away from direct community engagement events and volunteer work, Flint River Fresh will continue growing and distributing food to those in need in our community.”
Phoebe, Flint River Fresh partner to open new community garden
December 5, 2019
Albany, GA (WALB) – Phoebe and Flint River Fresh partnered up to provide fresh, locally grown produce, to people in Albany.
Phoebe donated a total of three-quarters acres of land in Dougherty County.
Flint River Fresh partners with expo to showcase sustainable gardens
October 23, 2019
This year, a familiar face in Southwest Georgia, Fredando "Farmer Fredo" Jackson partnered with the 42nd Sunbelt Ag Expo, in Moultrie, to show people what Flint River Fresh has been working on.
This year, Flint River Fresh teamed up with the expo to teach local students, as well as small-scale farmers how to grow food in their backyard and helped with educating people on how to convert abandoned lots into a food oasis for the community.
Fredo says that this particular garden has been in existence for more than seven weeks and has a plethora of crops. This garden will also serve as a pollinator garden, a community composite site as well as an irrigation site.
Hands-on approach to nutrition education flourishes
October 20, 2019
ALBANY — The Georgia Department of Education recognized Flint River Fresh Executive Director Fredando Jackson, better known as “Farmer Fredo,” as Farmer of the Year at the Golden Radish Award ceremony last month after Jackson was nominated by the Dougherty County School System’s nutrition program.
The award is a reflection of the work done over the last several years to add a new perspective to nutritional education.
Blaine Allen, school nutrition director for the Dougherty County School System, said there are teaching gardens at all of the system’s elementary schools — including at the Magnolia Pre-K facility.
Farmer Fredo plants a seed in southwest Georgia
October 15, 2019
MOULTRIE — Albany’s Fredando Jackson is taking his messages of healthy eating and educating people on how to grow nutritious foods at home to a bigger audience, with an exhibit and year-around garden plot at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition.
Jackson, known affectionately as “Farmer Fredo,” was honored on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting at his 1-acre garden plot during the first day of the three-day farm show in Moultrie.
“We’re in a partnership with Sunbelt Expo to continue the (show’s) Sustainable Living Center,” Jackson told The Herald during an interview following the ribbon-cutting that included Gov. Brian Kemp and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.
Teaching gardens serving students and the community
September 20, 2019
Fifteen schools in our local area house the site of a community garden.
These teaching gardens can be found in various school campuses in Dougherty County, from Pre-K to high school.
FOX 31 News spoke with Dougherty County School Nutrition Director Blaine Allen who says that these teaching gardens not only feed our local community, but they also provide an in-depth educational experience for the students.
"When you think about our teaching gardens, there's a curriculum - there's STEM, there's math, there's science, and there's technology involved."
Flint River Fresh influence continues to grow
September 7, 2019
ALBANY — Fredando “Farmer Fredo” Jackson, executive director of Flint River Fresh, has been working to help increase access to fresh and affordable food while creating economic opportunities for southwest Georgia farmers.
These and other efforts were discussed in a report Jackson gave to the Dougherty County Commission this week.
Jackson said one way he’s achieved his goals is through community gardens, which have been created to serve as an educational tool teaching residents how to grow their own food while serving as an outdoor classroom for students. The gardens transform vacant and abandoned lots into plots where food is grown.
Teach a student to farm, and he can feed himself -- and his family -- for a lifetime
September 7, 2019
ALBANY, GA (Albany Herald) - Dougherty County ninth-graders visited a farm and returned to the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy with the desire to launch their own agricultural venture.
On Saturday they got their hands dirty filling plant beds they’d built with soil and compost and planting seeds.
“The objective is to learn about science and technology and even energy and math while growing (food) that can be given back to our community,” Chris Hatcher, the CEO of the college and career academy, said.
Mobile market helps elderly, low-income families in Albany
December 20, 2018
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - People in one West Albany neighborhood said they are struggling to receive fresh food, but thanks to a mobile fresh market, farm fresh produce is available right outside their doorsteps.
Flint River Fresh partnered with the Albany Housing Authority to give a solution to food deserts in the area.
On Thursday, the mobile farmers market was in West Albany where there is limited access to fresh food.
Flint River Fresh providing mobile farmer's markets across community
December 20, 2018
Albany, GA (WFXL) - On Thursday, Flint River Fresh hosted a mobile farmer's market for people who live near Holman Homes on West Gordon Avenue.
Executive Director Fredando Jackson says this is the fifth neighborhood he's been to this week, providing fresh produce for people in the community.
Jackson says his goal is to focus on areas that have a high population of seniors and people with disabilities so that everyone, no matter how far away they are from a grocery store, has fresh produce they can take advantage of.
Flint River Fresh brings produce to Albany food desert neighborhood
December 20, 2018
Albany, GA (Albany Herald) - For Fredando Jackson, also known as “Farmer Fredo,” getting fresh produce to Albany’s food deserts is a task that comes one sweet potato at a time.
Jackson, the executive director of Flint River Fresh, has partnered with the Albany Housing Authority to bring mobile farmers’ markets to these food deserts as a way to provide accessible produce and promote healthy eating.
He targeted on Thursday the W.C. Holman Homes neighborhood, which was impacted by the closing of the Harveys Supermarket on West Gordon Avenue after Hurricane Michael — a closure that took away access to fresh produce from a community.
Flint River Fresh mission needs community buy-in
December 16, 2018
Albany, GA (Albany Herald) - Fredando Jackson recognizes that the Albany area has a need for increased access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Some neighborhoods do not have grocery stores available within a 5-mile radius, resulting in “food deserts” in those areas.
Health problems associated with poor nutrition are also often connected to limited healthy food access. Enter Flint River Fresh.
From its master gardener classes to school gardens to community events, the organization is looking to increase its influence in the community.
“It is for our farmers, for our future and for our community,” Jackson said.
Flint River Fresh educating, growing farm fresh produce
December 3, 2018
Albany, GA (WFXL) - A local non-profit, Flint River Fresh, is trying to help people who may not have access to healthy foods.
Executive Director of Flint River Fresh Fredando Jackson spoke to Dougherty County commissioners on Monday about his future plans and current successes.
He says his goal is to promote healthy eating and eating locally grown food.