Farm to Food Pantry Program grant helps Cupboard buy produce from local farms
One of the many programs that keeps the Community Cupboard stocked with food is the Farm to Food Pantry (F2FP) program. A joint partnership between Harvest Against Hunger and the Washington Department of Agriculture, F2FP provides grants to food pantries like the Cupboard to buy produce from local farms. F2FP helps financially support farmers and also ensures food pantries have access to fresh, local produce.
Used in conjunction with MEND’s gleaning program, F2FP helps provide a variety of produce, including high-demand items that may not be available through gleaning.
To maintain relationships with farmers in F2FP, MEND Gleaning Coordinator Alana Springer makes sure to prioritize connecting with them as much as possible during her regular gleaning sessions at the Wenatchee and Leavenworth Farmers Markets on Saturdays.
“It helps us better understand which farmers we can use Farm to Food Pantry funds for,” Alana said. “Sometimes a couple hundred dollars at the right time can make a difference, especially to farmers who are already supporting us through our gleaning program.”