Farm to Foodshelf Grant Helps Farmers Make a Big Difference in the Fight to End Hunger

The six Feeding America food banks serving Minnesota are part of a surplus produce program with local farmers, Share Fresh Minnesota, which moves millions of pounds of excess produce out of the fields and delivers it to neighbors in need statewide. With the growing season in Minnesota upon us, we are excited to once again, promote the “Farm to Foodshelf” grant - an opportunity for farmers to donate excess produce to area food shelves this harvest season, thus helping to end hunger in our community. Made possible through a State of Minnesota grant, there are funds available for Minnesota growers to help offset harvesting and packaging costs for donating produce that would otherwise go unharvested or be discarded.

Through Farm to Foodshelf, we will collect and distribute more than 5 million pounds of fresh food in the first grant year, and in the coming harvest season we have the opportunity to collect and distribute even more food to our hungry neighbors. We want to thank the Minnesota growers who participated in the first year, and joined us in the fight to end hunger.

If you are a Minnesota agricultural producer or processor, you can donate through this program.  Produce must be “surplus that would otherwise go unharvested or discarded.” Edible and commonly used produce such as potatoes, sweet corn, cabbage, cantaloupe, onions, carrots, squash and others are welcome. Food must meet safety standards and be fit for human consumption.

Consider donating! For more information about how to participate, reimbursements for harvest and packaging for transfer, how donated excess produce gets from a farm to a food bank or food shelf and more, please call 877.547.0245 or email produce@2harvest.org.

Farm to Foodshelf is funded by the State of Minnesota.