Just Food

Project Details

Initiated this year, Just Food is off to an exciting start.  Already it is one of the main supports for Double Rainbow Farm of Whatcom County. The farmer, David Peterson, is in his third year of farming and his first year of selling Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. In addition to Just Food, he is part of the Food To Bank On program created by the Community Food Coop and now administered by Sustainable Connections and feels that the two programs are making an impact in the community.  “These projects match up with what I am working toward on my farm: sustainable food production that relies on community support, ” said Peterson.

One of the groups that receive deliveries from the Just Food CSA is The Lydia Place, a shelter for women and children in transition.  Currently The Lydia Place receives a large box of produce every week that is distributed to the 8 families residing there.  The delivery of farm-grown food is a nice compliment to their garden project that was started this year. Executive Director Janet Crook says that the response from the residents has been positive. “They’re excited about all the different produce they find in the box. And we’re really happy with the food because it’s always fresh.”  The produce is often prepared by volunteers into meals for the residents.  Growing Washington knows that with more support in 2007 local individuals and businesses we can replicate this success throughout the community!

The Just Food CSA is a pilot project in nutritional justice with immediate and tangible results.  We aim to make access to healthy food the rule in our community, not the exception.  Our CSA not only provides healthy food to those that need it most, it also serves as an educational tool to help participants develop healthy lifestyles that will continue when our program ends. Already gaining the support of important community allies like our Community Food Co-Op and Bellingham shelters, we believe that this program will serve as a replicable model for other communities.

Long-term, Just Food plans to bring together individuals, businesses and institutions to create an on-going system of food distribution and the redistribution of wealth throughout our community and as well as establish strong local support for farmers in our nearest counties. Working with Growing Washington's other community projects like the Farm-to-Cafeteria Program and our Multi-Farm Distribution System, Just food is helping to build the roots of a sustainable future for our local food system and.  We aspire for a system that is supported by our community for our community.

If you would like to help the Just Food CSA project, would like to become a sponsor, or just want to learn more about the project, please contact Amaris Lunde at amaris@growingwashington.org. Thanks!

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