A great example of local farms helping to reduce food insecurity is the 60-acre, permanently protected Food Bank Farm in Hadley. Skilled farmers from Mountain View Farm CSA of neighboring Easthampton lease the land in exchange for donating at least 100,000 pounds annually of fresh, chemical-free produce, which The Food Bank of Western Mass distributes to food insecure households. This partnership supports local farming for area consumers, including households at risk of hunger, while preserving farmland.
The Food Bank’s Executive Director Andrew Morehouse says The Food Bank Farm directly addresses his agency’s need to provide more fresh, healthy food to people who are food insecure and could serve as a model for others.
