Produce donated for free to local food pantries, early child care and eldercare sites, and free meal programs
IOWA CITY — The five-acre nonprofit farm Grow: Johnson County dedicated to providing naturally grown, high quality produce hit a milestone of harvesting 40,000 pounds of fresh produce this year.
The farm — located at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, 4811 Melrose Ave., Iowa City — donates all of its produce and delivers weekly to 16 food access sites. Since 2016, the program has been expanding to meet the needs of Johnson County residents by donating fruits and vegetables to local food pantries, early child care and eldercare sites, and free meal programs.
“A lot of people think food insecurity is something that happens to other people. So many of us are one paycheck lost or a medical emergency away from having to use food pantries. I’d love for people to keep that in mind,” said Claire Zabel, Grow: Johnson County program director.
<!–
–>
#placement_665573_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}
The harvest during 2023 was almost 10,000 pounds more of food than in previous years, said Zabel, saying it was a “happy discovery.”
Demand for fresh produce at food pantries has increased significantly in the last year, according to a news release from Grow: Johnson County. The Grow program gathers feedback from partners and pantry clients to make sure it includes the most highly desired items, including culturally specific crops that may otherwise be hard to find fresh. This year, the farm added Thai hot peppers, Shishito peppers, White African eggplant, okra, amaranth, and sweet potato vines.
Clients of many food pantries are immigrants and new Iowans, Zabel said. “They want to see food that is familiar and comfortable and that they want to eat with their families,” she said.
“Because of Grow, we are able to provide the fresh produce our members ask for,” said Hai Huynh, community projects coordinator of the Coralville Community Food Pantry.
Grow believes that access to fresh food is a human right and is committed to working toward a more just and environmentally sustainable food system. Its mission is to improve healthy food access through sustainable food production and hands-on education.
During the growing season — which can begin as early as February — Grow: Johnson County relies on volunteers Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — on the days deliveries go out — to help weed gardens, do field maintenance, harvest and wash and pack produce, Zabel said.
As the farm enters the winter season, Zabel said staff will focus on planning next years’ crops and purchasing seeds and other supplies, which is about a $5,000 expense annually. The other large expense on the farm is diesel fuel for the tractors.
Grow: Johnson County added a second full-time member to its staff this year, which made a “huge difference” in their ability to “get the most out of the land,” Zabel said.
That work, however, can’t continue without financial donations and business and corporate sponsorship.
The farm serves as an outdoor classroom to educate future growers on sustainable agriculture practices. To learn more about the program, to volunteer or to support Grow: Johnson County, visit growjohnsoncounty.org.
Comments: (319) 398-8411; [email protected]