Maine farms grow an array and abundance of food during the growing season; some might be considered off-grade (meaning not retail quality) yet is perfect for use by anybody - just not the eye-appealing product many consumers are looking for, a crooked carrot, a cucumber that is a little pudgy or green beans that aren’t perfectly straight, but they taste good and are nutritious. Farms for Food Equity purchases these hyper-local products and (with partners) transports to food pantries or food sites for processing and distribution at a later date.

Farmers experience food loss and inefficiencies for many reasons. Most notably, a lack of reliable market can prevent them from adequately investing in their business. Because Farms for Food Equity purchases these at-risk products (overruns, imperfects, etc), farms have a reliable market that they otherwise would not have.

Having a reliable source to purchase these products, creates a predictable income model that allows farmers to reinvest in their business.

Address food loss & create reliable revenue streams for farms

Food loss (aka food waste) is experienced by most farms. It is estimated that over 30% is left in the field. This occurs for many reasons: lack of market, labor, excess, or a need to move to the next planting. Farms for Food Equity works with farms to harvest these products. Initially, the harvest may be through work with gleaners, ultimately it will be through trained labor that can then be hired as skilled farm laborers.

Farms for Food Equity works with partner farms (and other farms in Maine) to identify and capitalize on market opportunities by collaborating with processing partners to produce and promote products that generate self-sustaining revenue outside the charitable food system.