Over the past several months, we have been working with the National Center for Farmworker Health to distribute funds from the USDA Farm and Food Worker Relief fund to eligible New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland farmworkers.

This funding, which originates in COVID relief funding, provides a one-time payment of $600 to any worker who worked in agriculture between January 2020 and May 2023.

While we understand that this funding is far from sufficient in addressing the difficulties faced by many front-line workers who worked throughout the pandemic, we have been grateful to be part of ensuring that this money actually makes it out to our farmworking community.

To date, we have assisted 350 workers in applying for this funding, and we will continue to help folks throughout this fall and into next year - leveraging resources we were awarded through the National Center for Farmworker Health but also working with other USDA grantees working in our region.

For many, this funding has helped them to address difficult financial challenges.

We are thankful to the National Center for Farmworker Health for all of their work with us on this program!

Our team from C.A.T.A. recently embarked on an inspirational journey to the 2023 Northeast Organic Farming Association (N.O.F.A.) Summer Conference.

This annual gathering brings together influential leaders across the organic agriculture and food justice space to educate, connect, and motivate.

In this blog post, we'll recap the highlights of our enlightening experience at the N.O.F.A. conference and why it left us feeling energized in our mission.

From the virtual workshops loaded with wisdom to the hands-on sessions providing tangible skills, read on for a rundown of our rewarding time at this impactful event.

We're thrilled to welcome these two inspiring young leaders to CATA as part of our Food Justice Program. 

Esmeralda Oloarte Arroyo is a 17-year-old senior at Bridgeton High School. Being in our program has allowed her to learn more about plants, mother nature, and caring for our environment. As a food justice leader, Esmeralda will work to create a more just and equitable food system by organizing and educating youth and advocating for healthy and sustainable food access for all.

Felicita Susano Cristóbal recently graduated from Bridgeton High School in June 2023 at just 17 years old. Her heart beats for her community, from caring for stray cats to making a difference through our program. Felicita plans to join the military forces once she has grown and developed throughout this experience.

With enthusiasm and eagerness to learn, Felicita looks forward to meeting community members and deepening her understanding of life's many facets. Her goal is to achieve meaningful things for herself and our community garden and its members.

Let's warmly welcome Esmeralda and Felicita as they join the movement for food justice!