Published December 14, 2021

Farm-to-Pantry Program Expands Impact by 75% in 2021

The sun is setting on a late fall day in Unity, and trucks full of locally grown produce line up outside of the Daybreak Growers Alliance (DGA) facility. Matt Carson, a worker on the loading dock, asks each farmer to call out as they unload their produce from trucks. “Greens for Waldo County Bounty!” “Peppers for Waldo County Bounty!” “Red onions for Waldo County Bounty!”

Daybreak Growers Alliance is contracted by Waldo County Bounty (WCB) to manage purchasing, packing, and distribution for the Farm-to-Pantry Program, which works to address food insecurity in Waldo County by improving access to locally grown foods. The Farm-to-Pantry Program grew out of the emergency response to COVID-19 and continues with the generosity of donors, grants, and partnerships with farm businesses like DGA that are committed to strengthening both food security and our small farm economy.

“The Farm-to-Pantry Program allows us to increase our purchasing from Waldo County farms,” said Colleen Hanlon-Smith, co-owner of DGA. “It is a core part of Daybreak Growers Alliance’s weekly work, and we are thrilled to continue to partner with Waldo County Bounty.” 

In 2021, the Farm-to-Pantry Program purchased close to 27,000 pounds of food from 17 small farms in and around Waldo County and distributed the nutritious food to local food pantries and other hunger relief agencies on a nearly weekly basis – typically within 48 hours of harvest. The program strengthens the local agricultural economy, which has experienced numerous pandemic-related disruptions, and it provides food insecure residents with high-quality produce. 

“The pandemic helped us rethink things,” says Patti Wright of the Northport Food Pantry, “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.”

To complement these efforts, WCB also helped to fund the Farm Box 2021 Pilot, a partnership between WCB, DGA, and the Belfast Soup Kitchen (BSK) spearheaded by Hanlon-Smith. The pilot project aimed to serve people at 100-189% of the federal poverty level, a population that may not be eligible for hunger relief services but is struggling to make ends meet. It delivered nearly 8,000 pounds of farm-grown produce to BSK in the form of weekly farm boxes for 50 families between September and November. The project also benefited from a grant in support of strengthening the local farm economy while addressing hunger relief. 

WCB, BSK, and DGA are currently assessing feedback from Farm Box recipients through surveys to determine the pilot’s impact and potential next steps in 2022. Among the initial feedback, food insecure residents reported they were able to access more diverse and fresher foods. Additionally, residents said that they experienced health benefits, discovered new ways to cook, and found new ways to connect with other community members. 

Like the Veggies For All gleaning program, the Farm-to-Pantry Program significantly increased its operations in 2021: Including the Farm Box 2021 Pilot, it delivered close to 35,000 pounds of produce. Waldo County Bounty and Daybreak Growers Alliance will continue the Farm-to-Pantry Program in 2022, and crop planning is currently underway with area farmers to ensure food pantry clients and area soup kitchens will get the high-priority ingredients they need. 

Thank you to all of the farms for growing such outstanding produce for the Farm-to-Pantry Program! We couldn’t do it without you: Bahner Farm, Buckle Farm, Dig Deep Farm, Hall Brook Farm, Ironwood Organic Farm, Moorit Hill Farm, Villageside Farm, New Beat Farm, Seven Moon Farm, Songbird Farm, South Paw Farm, Wild Miller Farm, Four Waters Farm, and others.