Growing for Good
Our new collaboration with PCC Community Markets & Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets
The Growing for Good Partnership: Farmer Centered, Community Focused, People Funded
After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, PCC Community Markets reached out to Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets in response to the public’s rising levels of food insecurity. Working with Harvest Against Hunger and the tools and knowledge of our preexisting Farm to Community programs, PCC initially donated $80,000 to NFM to help establish a CSA-type contracting model that would allow NFM to provide upfront payment to local farms to sell their produce to food banks, as many small farmers were unable to sell their produce in their usual avenues when markets and restaurants began to close.
With PCC’s donations, along with over $212,000 in funding raised by the public through PCC Food Bank Program, this partnership been able to support 15 Seattle-area food banks and 14 farms across 7 counties around WA in just its first season.
History
Our partnership with PCC Community Markets and Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets began with the goals of providing both an alternative income stream for NFM’s small farms whose businesses were threatened by the closures of Seattle farmers markets in spring 2020, and fresh produce for food banks in PCC’s Food Bank program experiencing greater demand during the pandemic. While the partnership was initially meant to be a short-term solution to COVID-19’s impacts on food security and the local farm economy, its multiplier benefits have allowed it to become more established in the region’s food system. With increasingly successful fundraisers, the program has continued to expand and is preparing to begin its 4th season of farm-to-food bank contracting.
Click below to view annual reports for impacts, testimonials, and future directions for the program:
2022 Farms
- Sno-Valley Gardens
Windy Acre Farms
Present Tense Farms
AG Family Farm
Alvarez Farms
Canales Produce
Farias Farm
Hayton Farms Berries
Kirsop Farm
Regino Farm
Viva Farms
Mariposa Farm - Spring Time Farm
- Frey Family Farm
- Left Foot Farm
- Olsen Farms
2022 Food Banks
- Asian Counseling & Referral Service
- Chicken Soup Brigade
- Byrd Barr PlaceDes Moines Area Food BankEdmonds Food BankBallard Food BankUniversity District Food BankFamilyWorks – Wallingford Food BankHighline Area Food BankNorth Helpline – Bitter Lake/Lake City Food Bank
Issaquah Food and Clothing BankJewish Family Service – Polack Food BankMaltby Food BankHopelink – Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland
Rainier Valley Food BankRenewal Food BankWhite Center Food BankWest Seattle Food BankWestgate Chapel