Farmer Foodshare

Food as MedicineDirect SalesFarm to SchoolSenior Elder FeedingFarmer Training

Sep 25

Written By Loop Creative

Located In: Durham County

Counties Served: Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Caswell, Chatham, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Henderson, Iredell, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Rockingham, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, Wilkes, and Wilson

Overview

Farmer Foodshare's mission is to reshape the disconnected food system by bridging the gaps between growing and accessing local food. We envision a Triangle-area community where fresh, local food is available to all, regardless of income level.

Since 2010, we have created markets for North Carolina family farmers to sell more of what they grow by providing aggregation and distribution services for their products through our Food Hub Program. On the other end of this field-to-fork food journey, we also increase access to fresh, local food to eaters of all income levels by (a) selling and (b) donating this food. We sell to businesses and institutions, and we donate to community-based organizations.

Major Programs

Food as Medicine

Root Causes Fresh Produce Program
Farmer Foodshare and Root Causes, a group run by med students at Duke University School of Medicine, have partnered to deliver fresh, NC-grown produce bi-weekly to more than 350 food insecure, low-income patients, while also supporting North Carolina farms.

Community Food Access

Fresh Food Funds: Farmer Foodshare donates bulk local food to dozens of community-based organizations, schools, and food pantries, serving diverse communities throughout the Triangle to fight food insecurity. In 2020-2021 alone, FFS donated 1.8 M lbs. of fresh, nutritious food to the emergency food system.
Food Box Initiative: Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Farmer Foodshare has partnered with various funders and over 30 community partners to deliver 20 lb. boxes, chock full of fresh, local produce to local families experiencing hunger.. In just two years, FFS delivered 50,000 hunger relief boxes, amounting to 1.5 million locally sourced, nutrient-dense meals reaching the plates of individuals experiencing food insecurity here in the Triangle.
Farmers Market Donation Stations: Farmer Foodshare got its start as a farmers market donation station in Carrboro, NC. Shoppers would donate money at the station during the market, and at the end of the market, volunteers would buy produce from vendors, and donate it to local food pantries. At its peak, there were dozens of donation stations throughout the Triangle and adjacent counties. Note: Although FFS took a step back during the pandemic, we are eager to reconnect with existing donation stations in 2023 and beyond, as well as helping launch or relaunch stations as needed!

Direct Sales

CSA for All: COMING SOON! Farmer Foodshare is excited to launch a long-planned "CSA for All" pilot program, planned for summer of 2023. This concept builds on our successful Food Box Initiative, and involves individual community members, hailing from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, to share in the same delicious, high-quality, locally-sourced food boxes - but paying a sliding scale of fees based on income and other factors. We anticipate this will allow community members to share in enhancing just and equitable food access options for all.

Farmer Training

Mini-grant program: In 2021, farmer Foodshare created a Beginning Farmer mini-grant program, which aims to provide start-up capital, or “level-up” capital, to farmers in the region who are trying to grow their businesses. New and beginning farmers, farmers of color, and women-owned farms will be prioritized for consideration.