National Farmers Market Week runs from August 2 to August 8. It gives us a fun excuse to talk about something we love at HCCM, fresh food, grown close to home, landing on the tables of our neighbors. Think about your favorite farmers market memory. Maybe it is the smell of ripe peaches, or a farmer who remembers your usual order. Markets bring people together over something simple, good food, grown by people who care about it. That is exactly the spirit behind our Fresh Food For All program.
Fresh Food For All brings fruits, vegetables, and other perishable items straight to families who need them most. No long lines, no complicated forms, just fresh produce, ready and waiting. Here is the fun twist, our Fresh Food For All works just like a farmers market itself. A bundle of kale might sit next to a crate of watermelon. A family might grab peppers for tonight's dinner and squash for tomorrow's. Clients choose what fits their household, and that choice makes all the difference.
Since January, we have distributed 551,215 pounds of food this year, and a good share of that weight comes from fresh produce. Every pound represents a dinner table, a lunch box, or a snack shared between siblings. Farmers markets celebrate the connection between growers and eaters, and we try to bring that same energy into our pantry, every single week.
This Farmers Market Week, think local, twice over. Visit your favorite market and grab something fresh for your own table. Then consider volunteering a few hours or making a gift to help Fresh Food For All keep growing. If you or someone you know could use a hand with food, stop by one of our distributions. Everything is free, no cost, no catch. Visit our website for our full Fresh Food For All schedule.
