Locally grown food feeds our local community
Since 2020, Saint Paul Farmers’ Market vendors have been donating fresh produce to local food shelves. The COVID-19 pandemic led to historic numbers of food shelf visits in the Twin Cities Metro, which continue to rise yearly. Our dedication to a thriving local food system goes both ways, growing locally and eating locally.
In 2022 we began weekly donation collections at the Woodbury Farmers’ Market. The vendors donated over 35,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious produce to seven community food shelves in Ramsey and Washington counties throughout the summer.
The photo to the right shows NCFA workers answering vendor questions and distributing boxes for produce donation at the Woodbury Market. July 2022.
Summer 2023
This summer we are expanding to collect at a second market location and will be donating to food shelves in Dakota county. Our 2023 goal is 50,000 pounds of fresh food donated. Stay tuned for more announcements as the season begins!
Partners and support
This food recovery program is supported by a Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy grant and private donations. Thanks to these generous financial contributions, the vendors are able to receive a seconds-rate of a dollar per pound for their donated produce.
None of this would be possible if it weren’t for our generous growers and our spectacular collection and distribution partner, North Country Food Alliance (NCFA.) NCFA has been assisting with program logistics since its creation. They are a worker-led food sovereignty organization based in Minneapolis. NCFA collects the produce and distributes it to food shelves across the Metro. They focus on food sovereignty by purchasing food from Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) farmers in the area, securing culturally relevant foods for the food shelves they serve, and ensuring healthy food stays local.
Support this program
If you would like to make a financial contribution, please click here to visit NCFA’s website. This support goes directly to the seconds-rate given to the farmers for their donated produce. Leave a note on the donation form “farmers market.”