Salvation Farms becomes program of the Vermont Foodbank
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT:
Judy Stermer
Vermont Foodbank
(802) 477-4108
In an effort to increase access to locally produced food provided to hungry Vermonters, the Vermont Foodbank is pleased to announce the merge of operations with Salvation Farms. For the past three years, Salvation Farms has worked to harvest excess farm produce from local growers in Lamoille County and surrounding communities. Relying on volunteers to harvest surplus and unmarketable crops, the gleaned produce was made available to local hunger relief agencies in Lamoille and additional produce was donated to the Vermont Foodbank. The success of the Salvation Farms model – having gleaned more than 88,000 pounds of fresh produce for distribution to more than 40 sites over the last three years – will be expanded throughout Vermont through this merger. While the center of activity will continue in Lamoille County and the 25 farms and food producers there, the Foodbank is excited to help foster the growth of this model in all 14 counties in the state. The merger of operations of Salvation Farms and the Vermont Foodbank will substantially increase the effectiveness and efficiency of farm gleaning efforts and represents another important step in our work to build partnerships that will help end hunger in Vermont. Doug O’Brien, CEO of the Vermont Foodbank, stated, “Vermont agriculture is paramount to the state’s economy and to the viability and the sustainability of our communities. With the merger of operations between the Vermont Foodbank and Salvation Farms, more of our state’s farmers will be able to provide healthy, locally produced food to hungry people and prevent the loss and waste of otherwise wholesome product.”
The founder and director of Salvation Farms, Theresa a Snow, had this to say about the merge, “Salvation Farms is very excited about becoming a program of the Vermont Foodbank. This will offer the project, which formally served only the Lamoille Valley area, a sustained future. The Vermont Foodbank is a perfect organization to allow gleaning to occur on a state-wide level and I am so honored to help make this shared vision a reality.”
Theresa has joined the Vermont Foodbank staff as Program Director of Agricultural Resources, a new position designed to oversee the implementation of Salvation Farms as a state-wide gleaning program, the on-going activities of the Foodbank Farm in Montpelier, and the procurement of additional Vermont farm products for Foodbank distribution to low-income people in need. The Foodbank is always looking for new ways to increase access to safe, nutritious and whenever possible, locally produced food for low income Vermonters. With this merger, we are one step closer to a hunger-free Vermont.### About the Vermont FoodbankThe Vermont Foodbank, a statewide organization, is the largest hunger relief charity in Vermont, providing more than 6 million pounds of food to 270 local partner agencies in all 14 counties last year. The Vermont Foodbank and its partners served more than 66,000 needy Vermonters with more than 5 million meals in 2006. The Vermont Foodbank is a member of America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. For facts and figures on hunger and poverty, to sign-up to receive our newsletter, to find a food shelf in your community, and to learn about the Federal Nutrition Programs, visit us on the web at www.vtfoodbank.org
