Support CSAs for hungry families

Kids help sort food at the Carrboro market

One in four children in North Carolina do not have enough food to eat.  Now you can help address this crisis AND support local farmers at the same time, by participating in a new challenge by Farmer Foodshare, the innovative nonprofit dedicated to making fresh local food more accessible.

There are a couple of ways to help, by visiting the Farmer Foodshare station at one of the Farmer’s Markets listed below.  As part of a brand-new initiative you can make a cash donation to support a local farm CSA share for a hungry family (you can even suggest which farm to use).  As always, you also can make a cash donation to support a local food bank or hunger organization, or donate part of your farmer’s market purchase to be distributed by a local food organization. In any case, your donations will be augmented by food donations from farmers and then collected at market by local hunger relief agency partners.

“Just in our region of the state, 180,000 kids don’t have enough food,” said Jonathan Bloom, a station manager with Farmer Foodshare. “Even sadder, North Carolina’s hunger rate for children under 5 is the worst in the nation. And an even larger number of young people don’t get enough nutritious, fresh food. The Farmer Foodshare Challenge aims to change that.”

Food pantries are extremely important to the services network. But, sometimes more targeted help is needed.  At-risk children and families may not be able to access food pantries due to scheduling challenges. Through the new CSA challenge,  Farmer Foodshare will purchase as many local CSA shares as possible to get nutritious, local food to hungry kids and their families, providing another option for partner agencies to better serve their clients.

CSA’s range in price from $300 to $500 for several months of delicious fresh food. CSA’s help farmers because they allow a farmer to plan what to grow and to be assured of income in response to seeds and other upfront growing costs. Donors can provide all or part of a CSA, and can earmark a donation for a particular farm or agency.

Participating Farmer’s Markets

Carrboro Farmers’ Market (www.carrborofarmersmarket.com)

Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market (www.chapelhillfarmersmarket.com)

Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market in Pittsboro (www.chathammillsfarmersmarket.com)

Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market (www.RaleighEatLocal.com)

Durham Farmers Market (www.durhamfarmersmarket.com)

Eno River Farmers Market (www.enoriverfarmersmarket.com)

Fearrington Farmers’ Market (http://www.fearrington.com/village/farmersmarket.asp)

Hillsborough Farmers’ Market (www.hillsboroughfarmersmarket.com)

Southern Village Farmers Market (www.southernvillage.com/farmers-market)

Western Wake Farmers’ Market (www.westernwakefarmersmarket.org)

Many thanks to Farmer Foodshare founder Margaret Gifford and the volunteers and donors who help out every week.