Spring greens come to us from a number of plants, including spinach, mustard, and turnips. As delicious as they are — with their peppery flavor, delectable bite, and nutrient dense leaves — these early season crops aren’t just good for the table but for the soil, too. Spinach and mustard greens grow rapidly, warding off weeds...
About 174,505 people in Durham, Orange, and Wake counties (nearly 10%) live with food insecurity. In the wake of federal funding cuts earlier this year, doubled down by a massive halt to SNAP benefits effective just a few weeks ago, that number only grows. But if hunger doesn’t stop, neither do the food banks, food pantries,...
Food assistance programs make up the bulk of the USDA’s budget, and earlier this year, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) received its largest financial reduction ever. Along with changes to eligibility, 2.7 million Americans are expected to be disqualified from benefits (Source: Civil Eats). But amidst shifting conditions for federal food assistance, local food networks...
While Farmer Foodshare by and large operates within North Carolina, our work occasionally takes us beyond state lines. We’ve been making deliveries to Dreaming Out Loud, a food hub dedicated to building a healthier food system for marginalized communities in the DC area and neighboring states. Left: The food hub team readies the truck for...
We were so glad to be a participating organization in this year’s Project Earth Orientation Program. An initiative of Sustainable Duke, Project Earth connects incoming students to the Durham community through social impact projects focused on sustainability, environment, economy, and community. We loved hosting a volunteer group for a pack day at the warehouse. Together, we...
At some stops in our Wake County delivery route, our distribution associates are sure to be extra quiet – especially during naptime. Earlier this year, we began providing produce for 18 early childhood education institutions. The ECE centers – ranging from small, home daycares to larger institutions – are located throughout Raleigh, Cary, Garner, and Apex,...
Smith’s Nursery is a third-generation farm market and garden center in Benson, NC. A former tobacco farm, they now grow heirloom & slicer tomatoes, mini-English cucumbers, peppers, field strawberries, starter plants, and much, much more, out in the field and in high tunnels. Smith’s joined Farmer Foodshare’s sourcing network in 2023 as part of our small farm...
We know that there's been a lot of news about federal funding and its impact on local nonprofits. This has certainly been true for us at Farmer Foodshare. Earlier this month, the USDA announced the cancellation of two programs that have had direct impact on Farmer Foodshare: the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program and...
There’s no question that Southern food is beloved. Hoppin’ John and hush puppies, grits and collard greens, low country boil and sweet potato pie. It’s easy to savor these dishes that shape the flavors of the South and think the Black communities that introduced them are likewise celebrated, supported, and respected. But racial inequities throughout history...
We’d like to share our appreciation for our sponsors, Coastal Federal Credit Union Foundation! Their generous support has enabled us to grow our Food Hub Program, and this year, we’ll be able to build on that impact and empower more farmers and deliver more fresh, local food to hungry neighbors. We are grateful to partner with folks...