Food Access

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. These programs include:

• Fresh Match
  Our Fresh March 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. By incentivizing the spending of nutrition benefits at farmers markets, Fresh Match increases revenue for regional farmers and producers, and by extension strengthens the local food economy. Learn more.
• Pop Up Food Hub
  The Pop Up Food Hub (PUFH) is our innovative food distribution model that leverages the power of farmers markets to maximize revenue for farmers and increase food access in the community. Every week, the Pop Up Food Hub team picks up wholesale orders from farmers attending FRESHFARM farmers markets and distributes these orders to institutional partners, childcare facilities, senior care organizations, and rec centers who we work with throughout the year to distribute fresh food to their clients. The PUFH is particularly friendly to small and mid-size farms who are often underserved by conventional wholesalers. Learn more.
• Market Share
  The Market Share is our weekly local food subscription program, featuring fruits and veggies from our network of farmers. Members can add a Social Impact subscription to their share to support FRESHFARM’s ability to offer the Market Share to SNAP/EBT and FMNP recipients at a 75% discount. In addition to helping consumers of all income levels conveniently purchase fresh local foods every week, the Market Share also provides farmers with an additional revenue stream, improving their profitability. Learn more.
• 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. We partner with emergency food assistance organizations across the region to help get leftover market food to those who need it most, ensuring that our most vulnerable neighbors have access to nutritious foods while reducing food waste at the same time. Learn more.

Our food access work is funded by federal grants,  private foundations, and individual donations. Support our work.