Local farms in Dane County donate surplus fresh fruits and vegetables to community food banks.
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Hailin' from Cross Plains, Wisconsin, the mighty Crossroads Community Farm is tacklin' the challenge of lendin' a hand to local food banks, aimin' to dish out organic grub to those in need. This farm's baggin' some serious produce and makin' it more accessible to the folks who ain't got the bucks for it.
Cassie Wyss, a farmer and co-owner at Crossroads, spilled the beans about their mission, sayin', "We're in a tough spot. There's a whole lotta folks starvin', and we wanna help out any way we can."
Their effort to broaden food access has been on the rise for five years now.
In 2020, Crossroads kicked off a farm-to-pantry program, hopin' to give everyone—rich or poor—a taste of the organic good life. When folk visit food banks, they deserve more than just canned junk and wilted lettuce. Wyss explained, "We wanna make folks feel like they matter—like they're bein' treated with dignity—so we gimme 'em fresh, beautiful, high-quality produce, just like our payin' customers."
One of the lucky recipients is Badger Prairie Needs Network, a food pantry Chuck full of Crossroads' farm-fresh veggies. According to Barbara O'Connell, the need for pantries has skyrocketed, leavin' 'em overwhelmed weekly.
O'Connell's grateful for the teamwork Crossroads brings to the table, sayin', "Our pantry's generosity knows no bounds, and we're thrilled to back local farmers who bring fresh produce to our community."
But Crossroads admits they can't keep up with demand, leavin' 'em frustrated as they have to turn away other pantries requestin' their help. Wyss confided, "It ain't easy turnin' away those who need it. But we gotta look out for our own, too—make sure the ones workin' here are paid a livable wage and livin' comfortably."
This summer, Crossroads is workin' on expandin' donations to keep up with the spring harvest, sharin' their bounty with those who need it most.
So, if you're hankerin' for fresh produce and wanna make a difference in your community, consider supportin' 'em. Their produce ain't just good—it's doin' good!
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- Crossroads Community Farm also strives to enhance the lifestyle of recipients beyond food, as they plan to extend their donations to include home-and-garden items, offering a more holistic approach to supporting those in need.
- In a bid to promote a healthy and organic lifestyle, Crossroads Community Farm is also considering the addition of food-and-drink offerings in their donations, such as fresh milk, eggs, and artisanal bread, making their produce boxes a complete meal solution for those in need.
