Efforts to move more fresh produce from farms to food banks and food pantries continue to grow in Illinois. For example, a program initiated by University of Illinois Extension in east-central Illinois supplies two food banks and more than 40 food pantries with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Known as Partners in Produce, Extension workers and volunteers participate in the Arthur Produce Auction held twice per week to see what kinds of buys or donations they might be able to secure.
“Exposure to healthy, nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables is the first step to addressing a lot of health issues that we have throughout the country not just limited to those that frequent food pantries,” says MaryBeth Massey, an Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Ccordinator in a five-county area. “But clearly, those that frequent food pantries are in dire need of the habit of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.”
Massey, a Farm Bureau member, estimates about 20 area fruit and vegetable farmers participate in the Arthur Produce Auction, held biweekly from May to November. Supermarket buyers, farm stand operators and farmers market vendors use it to supply their stores, booths and tents.
“Once the auction starts, buyers bid per pound on what they would like,” Massey says. “Once everybody has finished bidding, if there are things leftover, they set a price.”
Massey says Partners in Produce purchased thousands of pounds of produce that may have otherwise gone to waste for an average of 22 cents per pound in 2022. Extension associates and volunteers load the produce in three SUVs and distribute it to the food banks and pantries across Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby counties. She uses $12,000 provided by Feeding Illinois and $3,500 in donations provided by others to make the purchases. On one recent day, Massey and her colleagues were able to purchase nearly 6,000 pounds of fresh produce for 32 cents per pound and had 541 pounds donated by area farmers.
“We also provide nutrition education and recipes,” Massey says. “Right now, we have a glut of zucchini and we’re passing out how to cook and fix zucchini, what different things you can do with zucchini.”
Simply Arthur, an organization formed in 2009 by volunteers in the village that crosses Douglas and Moultrie counties, calls itself the “heart of Illinois Amish country.” Massey says fresh produce sold at the Arthur auction comes from a 20-mile area.
Learn more about Partners in Produce in this Partners podcast:
Listen to “Partners in Produce” on Spreaker.
See more: Farm-to-School Partnerships Make a Nutritional Difference for Illinois Children (VIDEO)