Soil to Sustenance is a GrowFood Carolina program relying on private donations to support farmers and our land protection goals while helping South Carolina families who are hungry for fresh produce. It builds on our work since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to meet the urgent need to bring boxes of fresh local produce to local communities in need.
We aim to support the delivery of food boxes to people in need across our 10 coastal counties.
Our vision
With support from existing and new Coastal Conservation League donors, foundations, and corporations, this program will:
- Allow more partnerships and links to residents in our communities who deserve fresh, local food.
- Promote additional crop planning and provide stable purchase prices for farmers. We already work closely with farmers in the crop planning process for the coming season. This program will allow GrowFood to plan with growers several seasons into the future, providing consistent revenue without the typical market uncertainty. We can enter into agreements with farmers for production, guaranteeing pricing and quantities.
- Diversify revenue sources back to farmers. Sales to restaurants, grocery stores, and institutions will continue to provide revenue for our farm partners. Adding this program will provide another source of revenue, one that is more predictable and reliable. This diversification is extremely valuable since access to a variety of markets is essential to creating successful farms.
Soil to Sustenance will provide support for our farmers, local families, and our land protection goals–all critical components of resilience for our region, our communities, and our local food system.