us to reach residents from the base of the Food Is Medicine pyramid to the middle . The Farmacy will be able to reach more residents and offer a “ choice market ” model for residents to choose from a selection of culturally valued fresh produce best suited for their families ’ needs . The mobile FARMacy Market — essentially a refrigerated truck and pop-up farmstand — will be located on scheduled days and times at community clinics , community partners and other high traffic locations where healthy produce needs are greatest , yet least accessible . Residents will be able to use SNAP and benefit from Maryland Market Money incentives to access farm produce , even if they are not diagnosed with a diet related disease . For residents enrolled in a Food Is Medicine Program through a community clinic , participants can get their “ produce prescriptions ” at the clinic partners from the FARMacy during scheduled hour and talk to a community health worker about nutrition , making healthy choices and available resources .
The FARMacy Market model allows Community FarmShare to expand its produce aggregation hub , provide greater healthy food access to more people , further link produce to community health care providers , and bring a “ choice ” model to healthy food access programs thereby reducing food waste .
Local farmers are key
Community FarmShare ’ s other mission is supporting our county ’ s small scale fruit and vegetable farms that play a key role in strengthening the “ health ” of our local food system . CFS ’ s central chronic disease , and 86 cents on aggregation hub with cold storage the dollar of healthcare costs are enables many small scale farmers spent to treat chronic disease . By throughout the county — including providing access to healthy food those lacking their own — to sell choices to help prevent and manage diet-related chronic disease , their product for re-distribution . Farmers can conveniently drop those same investment dollars their produce off at the hub where create a win-win combination for
In 2023 , CFS invested over $ 225,000 in local farm partnerships to buy culturally valued fresh produce . It enabled farmers to expand production and re-invest in their operations to benefit all eaters .
CFS packs and distributes to farmers and families by reducing various organizations and families ’ their healthcare costs . homes within 48 hours . Given our Almost all of our local farm belief in the value of healthy food , partners practice regenerative , organic growing practices which con- the correlation between freshness and nutrient density is a guiding tribute to plant health and higher principle of our work . By aggregating , we are able to meet our Food NIH study by David Montgomery ,
nutrient-dense produce . A recent
is Medicine and Farm-to-School Anne Bikle , et . al ., ( co-authors of program needs for quality and What Your Food Ate ), supports quantity . It also enables us to purchase from very small farms who soil-building farming practices can
the conclusion that “ regenerative
might otherwise not be able to sell enhance the nutritional profile ... of to an “ institutional sales ” program food .” If you see food as medicine , which requires larger quantities . it follows that the more nutrient
In 2023 , CFS invested over dense these “ meds ” are , the more $ 225,000 in local farm partnerships effective they will be — which to us to buy culturally valued fresh produce . It enabled farmers to expand eratively grown produce .
at CFS means local , fresh , regen- production and re-invest in their
Needless to say , food systems operations to benefit all eaters . work cannot be done without the Because CFS contract purchases passion of partners , volunteers , with farms , growers have the donors and dedicated team members . Together , we learn , connect , confidence and guarantee that we will purchase the agreed produce learn more , and build . And as Chef they have available for sale helping Jose Andres says , it ’ s time to “ build to alleviate any uncertainty around longer tables , not higher walls .” future sales .
By investing in our local farms , Jenny Freeman is Executive Director Community FarmShare simultaneously sees that same funding sionate about an “ all-things-local food
of Community FarmShare . She is pas-
achieving important community system .” CFS is currently seeking funding for its FARMacy refrigerated truck . health goals . Currently , some 50 % of the US population lives with communityfarmshare . org
30 plenty I autumn Harvest 2023