Here's help for people who can't afford to buy organic food

April 28, 12:16 PMOrganic Food ExaminerNatalie Rotunda

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poor@inamerica.com left a comment after my article, "4 reasons why you should buy, eat, love organic food---even in a recession." I knew there had to be a way for folks who wanted organic food to be able to get it, so I asked Gary, who owns Ploughshare Farm, a Minnesota CSA, if he knew of any programs that could people in touch with good sources.

Gary’s farm participates in getting food from his farm to foodshelves through participation in the Emergency Foodshelf Network.  A number of other partnering farms are located in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. EFN then delivers free-of-charge the produce purchased with Harvest for the Hungry donations to their network of foodshelves and on-site meal programs. To find locations, click here. 

Gary mentioned there are also programs through many farmers markets that will accept food stamps and WIC coupons.

To find programs in your state, do a Google search, using keywords ‘free food bank’ and/or ‘Harvest for the Hungry.’

For anyone interested in donating to the program, check out those keywords, as well.

On the West Coast, The Fruit Guys donates, according to Chris Mittelstaedt, founder and CEO, "somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 lbs. per year of fruit across three organizations near our production facilities around the country -- St. Anthony's foundation out here in SF{San Francisco], and Philabundance in Philadelphia. Each is committed to giving our fruit out to those in need in the local communities." In addition, the company sponsors a mentor program and donates fruit that is then sold below cost and distributed to folks in a low income area of San Francisco. See the video at their website for more on the program.

These are just two food companies who are putting good-quality fruits and vegetables into the hands of those who may not be able to have access to it otherwise.