'Food desert' town in Marengo County wins CSX grant

THOMASTON, AL (WSFA) - The small town of Thomaston in west Alabama's Marengo County is among a dozen nationwide winners of a grant to help provide fresh meats and produce to its citizens. Classified as a "food desert" by the USDA, Thomaston is getting the grant through CSX Transportation and the Conservation Fund which aims to improve transportation and distribution of fresh, healthy, food to needy community members.

Thomaston, which had a population of less than 400 according to the 2000 census, will put the money to use by supplying a cold storage bin/produce box for Dave's Market, which has agreed to locate in town. The box will allow the market the ability to provide fresh meats and produce to the community.

A food desert is an an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh foods.

It's a situation Brenda Tuck, the Executive Director of the Marengo County Economic Development Authority, knows firsthand.

"Thomaston has been a food desert for decades," Tuck explained, adding that it has been, "historically neglected, much to the detriment of the people who live in and around this wonderful town." Tuck recalled her own struggles within just the last week. She has to drive a 25 mile round-trip just to buy milk and fruit.

And there are others, Tuck explained, who suffer hardships including a young lady who lives hours away from her aging father - a Thomaston resident. "[She] is overjoyed that her father will be able to have fresh food available to him now."

The program was established in 2014 and grant funding is projected to enable organizations to collectively serve an additional 150,000 families with more than 9 million pounds of food. It's also helped increase the number of meals provided by around 4.5 million.

"At CSX, it's our job to move essential products safely and efficiently," said Tori Kaplan, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSX. "We're proud to continue our focus on transportation by working with The Conservation Fund to support local organizations that connect residents with healthy, affordable food."

The Conservation Fund, a national nonprofit dedicated to finding conservation solutions that balance environmental and economic needs, has partnered with CSX to address gaps in local food distribution and find local partners who can help enhance delivery capabilities.

"These grants are helping improve our entire food chain from the field to the fork," said Kris Hoellen, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Programs at The Conservation Fund. "Local food organizations are unsung heroes working tirelessly to make healthy, fresh food a convenient, practical and affordable option for consumers as well as a viable career option for our working farmers. We are thrilled to partner with CSX to help these groups expand their food network, while supporting local farms."

Along with Alabama, charitable organizations in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia were chosen to receive grants ranging from $4,000 to $10,000.

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