Valley Crest Farm and Preserve Donated to America’s Grow-a-Row
America’s Grow-a-Row is honored to announce that Valley Crest Farm and Preserve has chosen to donate their land to us. Valley Crest Farm and Preserve, a 100-acre non-profit farm located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, approached America’s Grow-a-Row to help extend their legacy through our shared mission to grow and donate fresh produce to help people in need and provide education on the farm.
America’s Grow-a-Row, a non-profit organization headquartered in Pittstown, New Jersey, is an important source of fresh produce for some of the largest hunger relief agencies in the region. These agencies are facing unprecedented need right now, as many people are experiencing food insecurity for the first time in their lives. America’s Grow-a-Row’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic is to focus our energy on our core service of growing nutritious fruits and vegetables for the most vulnerable in our communities. Now more than ever, our service of donating farm-fresh produce to those in need is critical, and the expanded acreage and orchards at Valley Crest Farm and Preserve will help meet the rising need experienced by our local and regional communities. Keeping in line with our mission of donating 100% of our fruits and vegetables to those in need, the Valley Crest CSA and U-pick program have been discontinued, allowing us to donate more produce to those in need.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Scout camping programs are suspended this year. The hiking trails are open to the public and Valley Crest Stables remain open.
According to Chip Paillex, President and Founder of America’s Grow-a-Row, “We are extremely grateful to both the Valley Crest Farm and Preserve Board of Trustees, along with longstanding friend of our program, Bob LeCompte, who personally preserved this farm and donated it to Valley Crest years ago. The donation of this land could not be any more timely and important given the increasing need of fresh produce for those faced with food insecurity due to the pandemic and economic crisis.”
Tom Curley, President of Valley Crest Farm and Preserve also added, “Valley Crest Farm and Preserve could not be more pleased to assist America’s Grow-a-Row in their mission, especially now. We have always shared a common goal of providing fresh produce for those most in need. It is our hope that AGAR builds on their success in the years to come as a result of this gift.”
America’s Grow-a-Row donates 1.5 million pounds, or 6 million servings, of fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables to food banks and hunger relief agencies throughout the state of New Jersey and beyond each year with the help of 9,000 volunteers.
