Farm Fresh
What is the Farm Fresh Program?
With a goal to offer healthy choices to those most at risk, the Farm Fresh Program means a wide variety of fresh produce harvested by local farmers can be purchased by the Food Bank at a deep discount at the Shenandoah Valley Produce Auction, then moved to our partner agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters), eventually reaching the tables of the people we serve. The produce will be distributed throughout the 9 cities and 25 counties served by the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
The Changing Mix of Charitable Food Distribution
Twenty to thirty years ago, people who were served by food banks received boxes and cans of food and precious little else. Today, concerned about the health of our patrons, we’re making sure that fresh fruits and vegetables comprise an increasingly large portion of the vital food distributed by Food Banks.
In 2014 the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank distributed more than 5 million pounds of produce.
Key Findings Regarding the Health of Our Hungry Neighbors
In the latest Hunger in America study, we learned that
- 30% of the households we serve have at least one person with diabetes
- 57% of the households we serve have at least one person with high blood pressure
- 40% of households have no health insurance
Hunger is a public health crisis that feeds on itself. People who are in poor health and have
little to no access to health care or nutritious food can become increasingly more reliant on public and private assistance.
How You Can Help
Make a gift to the Farm Fresh Program! Our friends at Farm Credit of Virginia will generously match donations to the Farm Fresh Program up to $25,000.
Your gift plus the matching dollars will help us ensure our entire community has access to fresh and nutritious produce to balance their meals. To support the Farm Fresh Program, call Todd Lilley, director of development, at 540.213.8424 or email [email protected].
