Each year, the Farm-to-Pantry program distributes thousands of pounds of locally grown fruits and vegetables for free to all of the 17 food pantries and soup kitchens in Waldo County, building capacity among local farmers to grow more fresh foods for everyone in our area. The model was developed in the midst of the pandemic by the founders of Waldo County Bounty (WCB), including Daybreak Growers Alliance (DGA) co-founder Colleen Hanlon-Smith. 

Farm-to-Pantry has now operated in Waldo County for three years and distributed more than 80,000 pounds of food to more than 17 area hunger relief agencies. As WCB has honed its Farm-to-Pantry program to fulfill its mission, Daybreak Growers Alliance has recently advanced the model to the entire state of Maine.

As an all-women-owned business, DGA was eligible to receive funding through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), and a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture; Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry; and Good Shepherd Food Bank. With the funding, DGA is leveraging the farm-to-pantry model co-developed with WCB to buy fresh produce from 45 Maine farms and distribute it to over 50 hunger relief entities across the state of Maine.

“It’s really a feather in WCB’s cap that other organizations and individuals are working independently to bring the farm-to-pantry model to new parts of the state,” says Hanlon-Smith.

The benefits of making Maine-grown foods accessible to Mainers are extensive. Doing so creates community and increases access to healthy foods grown in our own local fields. It reduces carbon emissions by shortening the distance the food travels and stimulates the local economy. By supporting this important work, individuals are helping build the market for Maine farms and helping more people experiencing food insecurity access fresh foods. “The best ways to help us sustain this work are to become a Daybreak Growers Farmbox CSA member and donate to WCB,” says Hanlon-Smith. 

When food supply chains were disrupted by the pandemic, it took the whole community to find a solution,” says Mary Leaming, board chair of Waldo County Bounty. “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner than DGA. Their logistical expertise was one of the keys to the success of Farm-to-Pantry.” 

With nearly one in five Waldo County residents continuing to experience food insecurity, the need for fresh foods is still critical, and WCB and DGA are currently planning the 2023 Farm-to-Pantry season. If able, please consider making a donation to Waldo County Bounty today to help more people access fresh, locally grown foods.

DGA co-founders Colleen Hanlon-Smith and Adrienne Lee. Photo credit: Kelsey Kobik

Daybreak Growers Alliance is also pioneering other socially and environmentally responsible efforts, including an Early Childhood Education Farmbox Pilot, which seeks to help more toddlers, children, and youth eat fresh, Maine-grown foods. “The pilot is a small start towards what will hopefully be a statewide opportunity to increase access to early childhood education centers and introduce Maine kids to Maine grown foods from a young age,” says Hanlon-Smith. “This age demographic also represents a substantial market opportunity for Maine farmers.” DGA is currently seeking new pilot participants, and, if you would like to participate, contact Marissa Romano, senior project coordinator of the MCD Global Health nonprofit’s Healthy Kids Healthy Future initiative, at mromano@mcd.org.

A Farm-to-Pantry distribution to Belfast Soup Kitchen. Photo credit: WCB