There’s a special kind of excitement that comes with a CSA share. Are tomatoes in season yet? Will there be more of that delicious kale I got last week? What new recipes can I cook up?
Our friends at Northfork Local Food have been working with Community Farm Alliance since 2018 to help families in eastern Kentucky experience that CSA sort of excitement. Sourcing from small-scale farmers, many of whom are not able to offer their own CSA, the Northfork Farm Shares aggregate local agricultural products.
This past summer’s Northfork Farm Shares contained not only a variety of produce, but also a loaf of sourdough bread. Most shares were purchased by community members, including Hazard employees of Appalachian Regional Healthcare through their company wellness program. However, for many families in the region, the cost of farm fresh food as well as the transportation to get that food poses a barrier. To reach more of these families, Northfork Local Food and CFA developed a unique farm share program serving low-income families in Perry and Knott Counties.
A VISTA packs shares this summer.
Key to the success of this farm share program was strong relationships with community partners who are also interested in addressing both nutrition security and supporting the local farm economy. With funding from Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Hazard and cool storage and packing space provided by Hazard Community & Technical College, the Northfork Farm Shares expanded to reach families through Emmalena Elementary School in Knott County and the Early Steps Program in the Perry County School District. Early Steps staff and the Emmalena Family Resource & Youth Service Center (FRYSC) identified families who could use farm shares and then ensured delivery of the farm shares to those families.
Over the course of this past summer, 44 families, including 85 adults and 106 children, experienced that CSA sort of excitement as noted by one mother who said her “Children were excited to see what vegetables they received each time! They did not always know the names of some of the vegetables, so they were able to learn something new!” Each farm share contained a packet of information on storage and preparation tips for the items in the share as well as recipe ideas. This created a learning opportunity for many of the parents as they tried new ways of preparing familiar foods as well as experimenting with preparing unfamiliar foods.
While many of the families served through this farm share program do not have the space to grow their own garden, Carolyn Sparkman, Emmalena FRYSC Director, shared that participating in the Northfork Farm Share program got several families interested “in just growing a small garden that they could involve their children in.”
left: Meal prepared from CSA share
In addition to teaching children where their food comes from, involving families in cooking new dishes, and inspiring future gardens, the Northfork Farm Shares also met the original goals of improving nutrition security and the local farm economy. The on-farm impact of this program was nearly $6,000 while families receiving the farm shares reported that the food both helped to make ends meet while improving the overall healthiness of their diet. As a grandmother raising her grandson put it, “I can’t always afford vegetables and fruits and when I can you’re never sure if they are really healthy. I look forward to these every other week and I build my meals around them. Thank you for the farm shares.”
Kendra Dixon with the Perry County Early Steps program sees that most families they serve “truly want to eat healthier and just don’t have the resources to do so.”
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