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Dear friends,
We want a community with a thriving food system where everyone has equitable access to the food they need and want. But how do we get there? In the past, we have relied on donated food. However, donated food isn’t always the food people need, and relying on donated food alone didn’t work to create equity in the food system. In the past 5 years, we have we have built new strategies and nourished relationships to better match our values. The impact of these relationships is most clear in our work with local farmers.
Farming is a tough, unpredictable job with low profits and high costs. It is even harder for new farmers or farmers of Black and Indigenous communities of color (BIPOC) who are historically under-supported. BFB’s pre-season agreements and pre-paid contracts take away uncertainty, supporting growers who are critical to the thriving local food system we believe in. When farms can keep their land and business, it adds to the food security of the wider community. 41% of our local food agreements are with BIPOC growers who have helped BFB enormously by selling us crops that are meaningful to shoppers from a wide range of cultural identities.
If it wasn’t for our connection with shoppers looking for culturally relevant food, we could not draft agreements that support farms in growing this food locally. Just by using the food bank as a resource, shoppers increase our strength and our ability to commit to our values. So in whatever way you interact with BFB, know that: Your presence when you get food is valued, your food donations fly off shelves, your time fuels our day-to-day operations, and your financial donations foster a more just local food system. Together, every effort matters.
Stephanie Sisson
Outreach Coordinator
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