The Vermont Community Foundation's Northeast Kingdom Fund has awarded a grant to Salvation Farms to expand a partnership with the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging. The collaboration is intended to increase the amount of fresh, local produce used at community meal sites across the region.
Laura Valcour, the council's Director of Nutrition and Wellness, said the partnership supports local farms, communities, and the food system. "It's a win-win for all," she said.
Salvation Farms, based in Morrisville, coordinates the collection and distribution of surplus Vermont-grown fruits and vegetables. Executive Director Theresa Snow said the organization has been gleaning the Lamoille Valley for 15 years and is "eagerly exploring this expanded distribution opportunity" to serve seniors in the Northeast Kingdom.
In 2018, the Lamoille Valley Gleaning program captured more than 210,000 servings of produce that would otherwise have gone unused. That food went to programs serving vulnerable residents.
During a fall and winter pilot, Salvation Farms delivered gleaned produce biweekly to six senior meal sites: Barton, Glover, Lyndonville, Orleans, West Burke, and Danville. The goal is to make locally sourced food a regular part of senior meals and to improve nutritional value. Deliveries also give kitchen staff time to share recipes and storage techniques.
Photo: J K via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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