**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY BY EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES SERVING FOOD DESERTS TO PRODUCE MORE FRESH FOOD. THIRTY-FOUR MILLION AMERICANS ARE FOOD-INSECURE AND 13.5-23.5 MILLION LIVE IN LOW-INCOME, SEGREGATED FOOD DESERTS, WHERE FRESH FOOD IS SCARCE BUT INDUSTRIALLY PRODUCED ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS ARE CHEAP, CONVENIENT, AND UBIQUITOUS. CURRENT EFFORTS TO ADDRESS FOOD DESERTS, AND THEIR NEGATIVE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SEQUELAE, OFTEN OVERLOOK SMALL BUSINESSES AS A SOLUTION. THE NOURISH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED (AI) PLATFORM EMPOWERS SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH NOVEL, CONVERGENT SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO TAILOR PRODUCTS TO LOCAL PREFERENCES FOR TASTE, CONVENIENCE AND AFFORDABILITY. IT BUILDS ON THE SKILL SETS OF EXISTING, BUT OFTEN UNDER-UTILIZED TALENT, RICH AND DIVERSE FOOD HERITAGES, UNMET DEMAND FOR HEALTHY FOOD, AND THE RELATIVELY LOW START-UP COSTS TO FOUND NEW SMALL BUSINESS AND EXPAND ESTABLISHED ONES. ACCESSED THROUGH PERSONAL COMPUTER OR CELL PHONE APP IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, THE USE-INSPIRED NOURISH PLATFORM IS AN INTEGRATIVE SOLUTION THAT EMPOWERS USERS (NEW AND ESTABLISHED SMALL FARMS AND PREPARED FOOD BUSINESSES) TO: 1) OBTAIN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CAPITAL FOR STARTING OR EXPANDING FRESH FOOD BUSINESSES, 2) EXPLORE MARKET DATA ON THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE, OPTIMAL BUSINESS LOCATIONS, AND CONSUMER PREFERENCES, 3) LEARN THROUGH CURATED BUSINESS TUTORIALS AND A BUSINESS PLAN ASSISTANT, 4) FIND PARTNERS IN LOCAL FRESH FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS THROUGH A SMART FOODSHEDS FEATURE, AND 5) UNDERSTAND AND APPLY FOR LOCALLY REQUIRED BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMITS. END-USER TESTING BEGINS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY (URBAN/SUBURBAN) AND RURAL IMPERIAL COUNTY BEFORE TRANSITIONING THE PRODUCT INTO WIDESPREAD PRACTICAL USE, STARTING IN CALIFORNIA.