Farm-to-Pantry Program

The Farm-to-Pantry program buys fresh food from local farms and distributes it to food pantries and soup kitchens in Waldo County. The food is often organic and always unprocessed. Daybreak Growers Alliance (DGA), a women-owned business working with a network of close to 30 local farms, is a founding partner of the program. DGA continues to expertly provide services between farms, food pantries, and other agencies.

In our farm-rich region, eating locally means eating healthily, connecting with our agricultural roots, and supporting our farms. From spinach in the spring to butternut squash in the fall, Farm-to-Pantry provides seasonal produce of the highest quality to those who need it most. The program pays competitive wholesale prices for locally-grown produce to build the economic resilience of our farmers, their workers, and the communities we serve.

Daybreak Growers Alliance also stores and helps to distribute the food we glean through the Veggies For All gleaning program—a cool efficiency that comes from collaborating locally!

Farm-to-Pantry serves 14 local food pantries and soup kitchens that have a combined ~12,630 site visits/month.

“The pandemic helped us rethink things, and the Farm-to-Pantry program let us rethink fresh vegetables. It has just upped our game in terms of the quality, variety, and regularity of fresh produce.”

-Patti Wright, Northport Food Pantry Director

“I just want to thank you for the healthy vegetables. It has been so beneficial to me mentally and physically. ​I have rheumatoid arthritis and have found I need to eat healthy for it. I have a hard time getting to the store and am not always able to buy healthy foods. With Waldo County Bounty, I have been able to enjoy farm fresh veggies and feel so much better inside.”

- Brooks Resident

The Daybreak Growers Alliance Team