The Free Farm Market is a collaborative nutrition/education outreach program offered by Rolling Harvest Food Rescue and dedicated local farmers.
We’ve spent many harvest seasons from May through December delivering donations of fresh, local, mostly organic produce direct from area farms and markets to food pantries, cupboards and free-meal programs serving at-risk, food-insecure families right here in our community.
We soon noticed that some of the more unusual veggies were not being used and enjoyed. The solution? — a free weekly “farmers’ market” right on site. Set up as an attractive and inviting farm market stand, we hand out recipes and nutrition information in English and Spanish showing how to use that week’s produce, and often have tastings and cooking demos to emphasize just how delicious fresh and healthy can be!
Now there are scores of new converts to kohlrabi, celeriac, Swiss chard, Asian eggplant, kale, sweet white turnips and so much more!
A favorite part of the program for the families we serve is interacting with the farmers, when available. Guest farmers share their stories from the fields; their passion for and commitment to the enormous health benefits of adding fresh produce to a daily diet with food pantry customers. Families leave with a bagful of veggies to prepare at home. These market events create a rewarding and direct connection between the farm fields and families in need.
Current Free Farm Market sites include:
Fisherman’s Mark Food Pantry in Lambertville, NJ on Wednesdays
Community Kitchen of Lambertville on Wednesdays
DVIC Lambertville Food Pantry on Saturdays
Doylestown Food Pantry on Sundays
Jesus Focus Ministry in Southampton, PA on select Thursdays
Bucks Landing Food Pantry in Warminster, PA on select Thursdays
