Agricultural markets -- Supply chain -- Illinois -- Case studies
Geographic Coverage
Tazewell County, Illinois
Abstract
Roth Countryside Produce is a fifth genertion family farm located in Morton, Illinois. The farm has been in the produce business since 2006, and grows over 20 varieties of fruits and vegetables. They started growing on 5 acres and are now growing on over 100 acres. Roth sells their fresh fruits and vegetables wholesale and in bulk, as well as through their Farmstand in Morton. Nic Roth reached out to the Farm to Food Bank team in August of 2021 after reading about the pilot project with Rendleman Orchards. He explained that throughout the season they regularly have surplus products. After discussing the type and quantity of products with Roth and Peoria Area Food Bank, it was decided that we would follow a Farm to Food Pantry model and connect Roth directly with the local Community Harvest Food Pantry in Morton or the East Peoria Food Pantry. Feeding Illinois and the food bank would still cover the Picking and Pack-Out (PPO) costs to Roth Farm, but the product would be delivered (by Roth) directly to one of the food pantries. Nic would reach out each week via email to the Farm to Food Bank team, the food bank and food pantry detailing type and quantity of surplus produce available. The food pantry would confirm they can use the product and the food bank would approve the PPO costs. Once that approval process took place, Roth would deliver the product and the food pantry would distribute to the community by the next day. In August of 2021, Feeding Illinois and Peoria Area Food Bank reimbursed PPO costs for donating of 2,765 pounds of vegetables. Expanding on this partnership in 2022, Roth was reimbursed PPO costs for donating 9,371 pounds vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, sweet corn, yellow squash, and zucchini. Weekly deliveries ranged between 250-1500 pounds.
Publisher
Champaign, IL : Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Publications from ISTC TAP's Farm to Food Bank project. The project aims to connect food banks with farms to purchase products like fruits, vegetables, cheese, milk, meat, and eggs directly from farmers. The overall goal of the project is to identify and build a long-term market and infrastructure for Illinois farmers and Illinois food banks.
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