RI farms increase amount of produce donated to Food Bank

Posted 6/5/18

During last year's growing season, local farm businesses increased the amount of fresh produce they donated to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. In 2017, farms donated 358,282 pounds of food compared to 314,855 in 2016, an increase of 43,427 pounds.

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RI farms increase amount of produce donated to Food Bank

Posted

During last year’s growing season, local farm businesses increased the amount of fresh produce they donated to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. In 2017, farms donated 358,282 pounds of food compared to 314,855 in 2016, an increase of 43,427 pounds.

“We are so grateful for the support we receive from the farm industry here in Rhode Island,” said Andrew Schiff, CEO of the Food Bank in a release issued last week on Rhode Island Agriculture Day. “As they work to run successful businesses and provide for their own families, they are able to demonstrate great generosity by donating food to support others.”

”For many of the guests served by the Food Banks 155 member agencies across the state, fresh produce is hard to come by.

Like most food banks across the country, we strive to provide fresh produce to our clients as much as possible so that they’re not limited to canned and frozen goods,” explained Schiff. “Thanks to our local farmers we were able to distribute nearly 360,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to our neighbors in need.”

Fresh produce is delivered to the Food Bank or picked up by agencies at the farm. Over the past year, locally grown items included apples, potatoes, carrots and butternut squash. The produce is distributed to member agencies where it reaches food pantry guests.

In addition to Young Family Farm, contributors include Boston Greens, Confreda Greenhouses & Farms, Jaswells Farm, Pippin Orchard, RI Mushroom Co., Salisbury Farm, Stamp Farm, Steere Orchard, and Terra Verde Farms.

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