The South Plains Food Bank Grub Farm is recognizing Community Supported Agriculture and helping them get well-deserved funds.
The celebration allows community members to buy a share with the farm which in turn gives them more money for supplies before the harvest season.
Jennifer Smith, with the South Plains Food Bank Grub Farm, said they would love to see people grow their own food.
“We would love to help them and teach them and that’s one of the things we do with our GRUB program,” she said. “We want as many people as possible to learn about where their food comes from and how to grow it.”
Smith said the money raised during CSA day also helps them pay for hardworking employees.
She said food banking solves a series of problems, the biggest being hunger and waste. By supporting CSA day, people are supporting eating healthy food, local farmers, and caring about the environment.
If you want to celebrate CSA day to support the GRUB farm, you can sign up on their website SPFB.org.
The following is a press release from the South Plains Food Bank:
Are your New Year’s resolutions already in the rearview mirror? If so, you’re not alone, but you still have time to make good on those resolutions. The South Plains Food Bank GRUB Farm is pleased to join other farms from around the country for the third annual CSA Day on February 22, when you can join other like-minded people around the country who are committed to:
• eating healthful foods and preparing them for their families
• supporting their local farmer
• being kind to our planet
• learning something new
• being adventurous in the kitchen.
CSA (community-supported agriculture) is a subscription to a season’s worth of sustainable, locally grown produce that is distributed to members throughout the harvesting season. It is a form of investment that allows small farmers to continue growing on a scale that may not be sustainable without the CSA model. CSA members enjoy the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables for their family, while supporting their local farmer.
According to Small Farm Central’s CSA Farming Annual Report, the most popular time to join a CSA each year is at the end of February. To promote this important time for farmers, CSA Day was coined, and each year it falls on the last Friday in February. It’s an entire day dedicated to the celebration of community-supported agriculture, and CSA farmers enjoy an influx of sign-ups from members, which gives them revenue when they need it most for the growing season.
Getting food from a CSA is different from going to a farmers’ market or using a grocery delivery service. As a CSA member, you make a seasonal commitment to a small farmer in your area, and you pick it up at the farm. CSA members take pleasure in knowing where and how their food is grown, and typically have an open line of communication with their farmer.
“Community-supported agriculture is all about relationships and feeding families,” said Simon Huntley, CEO of Small Farm Central, a company that provides marketing support for small farms and started CSA Day. “CSA farmers typically teach members what’s in season throughout the year and help them appreciate and cook food to which they may not otherwise be exposed.”
How to Get Involved with CSA Day
If you would like to celebrate CSA Day and support the South Plains Food Bank GRUB Farm, sign up for a share on February 22, and use the hashtag #CSAday to join the online conversation.
“Sign-up is easy,” says Jenifer Smith, director of the program. “To learn more and to join us for the 2019 season, you can reach us at the South Plains Food Bank’s website at spfb.org or 806-763-3003 ext. 134, FOGDirector@spfb.org”
Quotes from Shareholders
“Everyone that works out at the GRUB farm is so nice, the adults and kids. This has been my favorite CSA and I have tried 2-3 before this one. Wish you could get it out there more for others to see what a great job you do.”
“Really liked young people. Very polite and helpful and fun to talk with about their experiences.”
About Small Farm Central and CSA Day In 2006, Simon Huntley combined his passion for helping small farmers and his experience in technology to found Small Farm Central. The organization serves the technology needs of small business farmers, including websites, ecommerce, CSA member management and marketing tools. Small Farm Central coined CSA Day in February 2015 to celebrate local agriculture among CSA members and farmers. Small Farm Central has worked with more than 1,000 farms across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit www.smallfarmcentral.com and www.csaday.info.
About South Plains Food Bank
Food banking solves two problems … hunger and waste. The South Plains Food Bank, Inc. is a humanitarian resource responsible for securing, growing, processing, and distributing food to charitable organizations and persons in need. South Plains Food Bank, Inc. also strives to provide opportunities for persons to break out of the poverty cycle. The South Plains Food Bank is committed to alleviating hunger and giving hope to the hungry. We touch 1 in 8 people across the South Plains and serve over 57,000 people each year. The South Plains Food Bank also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve through our Kids Cafe program, Mobile Pantry program, and GRUB, Growing Recruits for Urban Business, program. Our vision is to see a hunger-free community. Visit www.spfb.org for more information or find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
About the South Plains Food Bank GRUB Farm
The farm was established in 1988 to provide locally grown produce to clients receiving food assistance through the food bank. In 2001 the GRUB program began at the farm with the mission of providing job skills and life skills to junior high and high school students. A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share program was established to assist in raising money needed to pay youth for summer employment. Picking up vegetables weekly during the growing season is a great way to meet the people growing your food.