This summer APU’s Spring Creek Farm will donate over a ton of fresh produce to senior centers, women’s shelters and food pantries.
Food pantries in Alaska report that fresh food is the hardest for them to come by, the most requested and the healthiest. APU’s Spring Creek Farm Production Manager Joshua Faller smiles as he loads 10 bright green re-usable bags with 150 pounds of colorful produce just picked and washed by APU’s Spring Creek farming trainees. He’s picturing Winona Benson the UAF Family Nutrition Educator unloading this same bag in the kitchen of the Women’s Shelter and preparing them an evening meal or giving a cooking demonstration and recipes at the Food Pantry as smiling participants eagerly take home their own bag of fresh veggies.
APU’s Farm Manager Megan Talley explains, “This collaborative effort brings together UAF’s greenhouse, walk in cooler and Family Nutrition Educator and Spring Creek Farm’s soil and staff expertise. ” Ten shares (equivalent to 150 lbs. of fresh Alaska Grown vegetables delivered weekly for 16 weeks) were donated to the project by APU. These shares are purchased by generous Alaskans and the proceeds cover the cost of production. Then the food is delivered to senior centers, women’s shelter, and food pantries. “We are well on our way toward our goal of delivering 2,400 pounds of fresh food worth over $7,000 in the first season of the project,” Talley says. “It’s exciting to see what Alaskans can do working together to help those in need.”
To find out how you can help or get more information contact Spring Creek Farm at 405-612-6465.
