4Roots is an alliance of community stakeholders investing in a healthy thriving, sustainable, food system. Our key initiative is the 4Roots Farm Campus which is being developed in the heart of Orlando to serve as a community crossroads where individuals and organizations can work together to build solutions for a better food future.

In 2020, as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 4Roots launched Feed the Need Florida, a statewide public and private collaboration designed to source produce from Florida farmers, preserve and create jobs, and distribute fresh, nutritious food throughout the state. This program was launched alongside other community partners to address the immediate food needs of our community, which were driven to unprecedented levels by the pandemic. Ultimately, in 2020, Feed the Need Florida served over 1.7 million meals and 500,000 pounds of produce to our neighbors.

In 2021, 4Roots will expand the Feed the Need Florida program to not only respond to the immediate needs of our community with distribution of nutritious food, but also to empower our partners to develop long-term solutions that promote ongoing food security throughout our neighborhoods. The Feed the Need Florida program will now involve a three-pronged approach:

• Food distribution – 4Roots will partner with community organizations (churches, neighborhood centers, schools, etc.) to distribute fresh, locally-grown produce.
• Box gardens – 4Roots will partner with community organizations (churches, neighborhood center, schools, etc.) to build and plant new box gardens – offering education and guidance to support ongoing maintenance, harvest, and re-planting.
• Culinary education – 4Roots will highlight the importance of preparing healthy meals from fresh, nutrient-dense produce, and will share relevant recipes and cooking demonstrations to encourage the community to utilize the food that is being grown and distributed.