CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION PARTICIPATES IN LOCAL PRODUCE HARVEST AT BURLINGTON COUNTY FARM
Gleaning Support Grant Recipient Collects Donated Produce to Distribute to Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens
For Immediate Release: May 2, 2013
Contact: Lynne Richmond聽
(609) 633-2954
(SPRINGFIELD) 鈥� 樱花视频 Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today participated in Farmers Against Hunger鈥檚 first gleaning of the season, picking collard greens along with a group of volunteers at Specca Farms in Springfield Township, Burlington County.聽 Secretary Fisher then continued on to Holy Cross Church of Christ in Trenton where the just-picked produce was delivered for distribution to those in need.
Farmers Against Hunger (FAH) received a $100,000 Gleaning Support Grant through the Department of Agriculture鈥檚 State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) to collect, distribute and administer its program.
鈥淚t is fun, but hard work to harvest vegetables and I commend all the volunteers who make it possible to connect our generous farmers with the people who are truly in need of this nutritious food,鈥� said Secretary Fisher.聽 鈥淲e are so very proud of the state鈥檚 farmers who donate their excess produce to help in the fight against hunger.鈥�
Secretary Fisher joined volunteers to pick collard greens for distribution to those in need
Specca Farms has been involved with Farmers Against Hunger since the early 2000鈥檚.
鈥淪ometimes we don鈥檛 sell everything that we grow and it is a shame to see it go to waste when you know that someone would enjoy eating it who might not necessarily be able to buy it in a store,鈥� said David Specca, who, along with his wife, sons and brothers, operate Specca Farms, which was started by his grandfather in 1956.聽 鈥淲e have been blessed with the farm and it is good to spread that blessing around to others who are less fortunate.鈥�
Specca Farms consists of a 125-acre preserved tract and another 12 acres down the road.聽 They grow a variety of ethnic vegetables, broccoli rabe, spinach, Swiss chard, beets, strawberries, peas, Fava beans, flat Italian beans, Regina beans, plum tomatoes, hot peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, collards, kale, escarole, romaine, red lettuce, parsnips and leeks.聽 They sell their produce through pick-your-own on the weekends.
The collard greens picked today at the farm were taken to Holy Cross Church, one of Farmers Against Hunger鈥檚 most active distribution sites.聽 FAH holds a weekly distribution of produce and other items at the church, where 10 other organizations with food pantries and soup kitchens come to pick up shares of produce.聽 In addition, Holy Cross Church sets up a walk-up food distribution line where those in need can come to receive food.聽 More than 1,500 people are served weekly at the site.聽 The distribution from the FAH truck starts at 3 p.m. and Holy Cross opens its line to the public around 3:45 p.m.聽
Secretary Fisher handing out bags of just-picked produce at Holy Cross Church.
Gleaning Support Program grants must be used by the gleaning organizations for collection, distribution and administrative costs.聽 The groups must distribute the gleaned 樱花视频 grown produce or non-farm nutrient dense rescued food gleaned from non-farm sources outside of the growing season only to 樱花视频 residents.
The funding for the grants comes from the State Food Purchase Program to be distributed quarterly to the state鈥檚 six food banks to purchase healthy food, with a high priority on buying locally grown produce from 樱花视频 farmers.聽 For more information on the SFPP, visit .
