Getting fresh produce into the emergency food system is an increasingly important part of hunger-relief efforts in communities across Washington.
Harvest Against Hunger is partnering with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Harvest VISTA host sites, farmers, food pantries, and local funders to expand the Farm to Food Pantry initiative that was launched as a pilot in 2014.
Results from F2FP 2019 showed that purchasing directly from a local farmer will increase the variety, nutrient density, and availability of local crops while improving access to healthier food choices for families and individuals in need. These direct purchasing contracts dramatically strengthens the bond between farmers and hunger relief programs. Results continue to show that if a farmer has a strong relationship with a local food pantry they are significantly more inclined to make additional produce donations through either gleaning or post-harvest.
We’ve compiled reports from previous seasons in our online Produce Recovery Guide. Recommendations from previous pilot programs show that sites should consider creating contracts with growers, making payments before delivery (“seeds in the ground”), and engaging multiple farms. By taking these steps, the sites should be able to grow new relationships and strengthen the existing ones that they have with local farms.