Thanks to the expansion of funded “farm to community” programs, the emergency food system of food pantries, meals programs, and other food assistance providers has developed as a viable market channel within WA’s broader food system, providing farmers with a flexible avenue for business growth and food waste reduction, on top of community connections. Led by Seattle-based nonprofit Harvest Against Hunger, this two-part learning series is for small-scale farmers who are new to wholesaling and would like an introduction to wholesaling through contracting with food assistance organizations.

Sessions will cover basic information about these organizations and what farmers should think about when developing a new purchasing relationship, including general operation strategies of emergency food systems, networking, pricing, and contracting. Through interactive discussions, we will also explore other ways farms can support food assistance programs while also maintaining a steady income stream, and discuss accessibility barriers encountered in the food assistance system.

This presentation and discussion will be led by Maddie Price, Farm to Community Program Manager for Harvest Against Hunger and Ellis Fahsholtz, Farm to Community VISTA. Harvest Against Hunger is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission “to help feed hungry people with surplus nutritious produce”. They work to connect farmers, transportation providers and food banks, develop and share innovative hunger relief solutions, and engage the public in hunger relief.

This 2-part webinar was recorded 12/7/2021 and 12/14/2021