FRESHFARM believes that fair, equitable access to healthy foods is vital to nourishing a sustainable food future. Our food access programs connect underserved communities with local foods grown by regional farmers, ensuring that fresh and local foods are accessible to all, regardless of income or background, while amplifying growers’ vital role in improving food security in our region.
Fresh Match
Our Fresh Match incentive program provides a dollar-for-dollar match on all federal benefits spent at market, helping shoppers take home more fresh and nutritious produce and local foods.
In 2021, FRESHFARM received a $1.4 million four-year USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grant to create a multi-state, and multi-sector SNAP Incentive Coalition.
This SNAP Incentive Coalition will incentivize the use of nutrition benefits at more than 110 farmers markets and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Produce Plus
Produce Plus is funded by DC Health and administered by FRESHFARM. Produce Plus provides locally grown, fresh produce to DC residents with limited access to fresh, healthy food. Produce Plus runs from June through September.
Pop Up Food Hub
The Pop Up Food Hub (PUFH) harnesses the power of wholesale purchasing and distribution through farmers markets to connect underserved individuals and community-based organizations with local foods grown by regional farmers.
The PUFH also runs the FRESHFARM CSA-style Market Share program.
Free Summer Meals
When school lets out for the summer, children across the region are at higher risk of experiencing food insecurity having lost access to meals and snacks provided by their educational institution. FRESHFARM and CentroNía seek to bridge that gap. Free Summer Meals are available at FRESHFARM Columbia Heights Market for children aged 1 to 18 years old in July and August.
Gleaning
Through our gleaning program, FRESHFARM works closely with our network of farmers and producers to recover tens of thousands of pounds of fresh and local food at our markets each year.
Our food access work is funded by federal grants, private foundations, and individual donations, including:
A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation | Amazon | Association of State Public Health Nutritionists | Bainum Family Foundation | Consumer Technology Association | DC Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)
| DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education | Foley Hoag Foundation | Inova Health Care Services
| Share Our Strength | The Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) | USDA Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)