By Blake Jackson
A new collaboration between Lincoln University of Missouri (LU) and Aetna CVS Health aims to bring fresh, locally grown produce to food deserts and food-insecure communities throughout Missouri.
Supported by a financial contribution from Aetna CVS Health, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension’s Innovative Small Farmers Outreach Program (ISFOP) will partner with farmers and community service organizations to supply and distribute produce to residents in need.
The initiative resulted from months of discussions. ISFOP Director Dr. Mark Lucas, along with Farm Outreach Worker Mary Keeter and LU advancement’s Gina Sholtis, coordinated with Aetna CVS Health through several Zoom meetings to finalize how the funds would be used.
“A focus of the small farms program - empowered by this gift - is to work with low-income groups in towns and cities across Missouri,” Lucas said. “So how could we go about distributing fresh, free, locally grown food to that population?”
Rather than creating new infrastructure, ISFOP decided to collaborate with existing community service organizations already distributing food. Under this plan, ISFOP will handle funding, while partner groups work with local farmers to obtain and distribute fresh produce.
“We’re pairing with local community partners that we already work with in other ways to help us with distribution," Keeter said. "The part that we do really well already is work with small farmers, so pairing with an organization that already has experience with food giveaways means we don’t have to reinvent the wheel."
Keeter noted that the program benefits both communities and farmers by giving producers financial security and consumers access to nutritious food. “It’s exciting to be able to provide income to farmers by purchasing produce they’re growing for people who need it,” she said.
Phase I, launching in 2025, will establish the program’s foundation and distribute food through the growing season, with remaining funds rolling into 2026. If successful, Phase II will aim to make it a year-round effort.
“I’m really grateful to Aetna for having foresight and understanding the importance of nutrition in health - how we feel better when we eat better,” Keeter said. “People deserve to eat the best things.”
Photo Credit: lincoln-university-missouri
Categories: Missouri, Education