Freshly Fort Peck: a program highlighting locally-produced food

Published: 2022
By Wendy Becker

Food Sovereignty has been the buzz phrase flying around Fort Peck Reservation, so it was time to jump in on the movement. The vision was to create a meal kit with produce raised on the Fort Peck Reservation. “Freshly Fort Peck” included a goal to use meat from the Fort Peck Tribes buffalo herd, garden produce from the Fort Peck Tribes Community Services Garden Project one-acre garden, and pumpkins and bees from MSU Extension’s Tribal Extension Garden. The produce meal kit from the gardens included potatoes, pumpkins, and honey. The buffalo was raised and harvested by the Fort Peck Tribes Fish and Game Department, the potato seed was purchased from Montana State Certified Seed, and Montana-owned company Drange Apiary started the bees. A recipe was provided to help stimulate healthy eating. All the produce raised was given away, and the meal kits were taken to the Tribal Elder Program and local County Cupboard Food Bank. “Freshly Fort Peck” kits produced were donated to 135 households. This was a collaboration with the Fort Peck Tribes Community Services Program, Fort Peck Tribes Natural Resources Department, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and MSU Extension.