WYTHEVILLE (WSLS 10) - Leaders across Southwest Virginia are teaming up to fight hunger.
Friday, the newly created group Appalachian Virginia Food Systems Network met for the first time in Wytheville.
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The team formed in response to a five-year, tri-state study on food insecurity.
In the New River Valley, nearly 14% of the population is food insecure. That means those people do not have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.
This network is looking to bring together non-profits, farmers and universities to tackle hunger from a broad perspective.
Virginia Cooperative Extension worker Kelli Scott said, "We need to involve and incorporate all the sectors within a community. If we just look at this as an agriculture issue, it's not as simple as that."
The group plans to meet regularly and host training sessions online.