Just Food Donates to Grow a Farmer

One of the goals at Just Food is to support our local community organizations that fit with our Ends Statement “To nourish a just, healthy and sustainable community.”  To that end, the staff at Just Food chose Grow a Farmer as the recipient of our community donation of $5000. 

“We’re excited to be in a position that allows us the ability to give back to the community that supports us,” said Alex Beeby, Interim General Manager of Just Food.

The Rural Enterprise Center (REC), which oversees Grow A Farmer, is a program that falls under the Main Street Project.  The Main Street project, according to their website, is a “grassroots cultural organizing, media justice and economic development initiative.”  They provide tools that give rural and urban residents of all ages, cultures, economic and immigration status an opportunity to more fully participate in all aspects of community life.   With that charge, they aim to strengthen the local community, so that answers to challenges that might arise, are drawn from within the community itself.

How many prospective new farmers does this donation impact?  Kat Vann, Director of Communications and Development for Main Street Project, says that each new farmer will typically need a loan of $4,000 to $7,000 from the Grow a Farmer Microloan fund.  This means that Just Food’s $5,000 donation allows one new farmer to enter the system; when that farmer is able to pay back his or her loan, their repayment opens up funding for another farmer to begin, allowing the cycle to continue.

“Our initial Grow a Farmer fundraising goal was $20,000. The donation from Just Food puts us over the top, so we’re increasing our goal to $40,000 for this year to support even more immigrant farmers. This is great news and we’re so excited to receive such a generous donation,” said Vann.

Just Food is proud to support and partner with Grow a Farmer in helping to strengthen or local foodshed.  If you would like more information or would like to donate to the Grow a Farmer microloan fund, more information can be found here: http://www.mainstreetproject.org/