Growin’ locally

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently awarded more than $15 million in grants to local-foods initiatives, according to USDA News.

The 16 organizations receiving awards, five of which are in California, were selected through the USDA’s Community Food Projects program. An organization in Fresno called Fresno Metropolitan Ministry is one of the top recipients in the state, taking in $300,000.

The grants are a part of the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative that started in September 2009 to help low-income communities find access to nutritious food. Other goals of the program include increasing food self-reliance in low-income communities and meeting local agricultural needs for growers and consumers.

The effort aligns with President Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.