When a community member visits a food pantry, they may not anticipate bringing home bunches of fresh cilantro and cartons of just-picked cherry tomatoes.
“People are expecting to get the leftovers,” said John Boller, executive director of the Coralville Community Food Pantry.
As of 2016, about 14% of Johnson County residents lacked consistent access to the healthy food they need. Income inequality, transportation and language and difficulty navigating social services create considerable barriers to accessing food and other necessities.
Because they believe so strongly in food as a human right, the Coralville Community Food Pantry team will work tirelessly to help community members overcome those challenges
“Hunger and poverty are not the individual’s fault,” Boller said. “There’s not a safety net, and unfortunately food pantries are a stronger safety net than they should be.”
Boller’s team strives to erase stigma and create dignity for their members, creating a space where every visitor feels welcome and equal. Keeping shelves regularly stocked with fruit and veggies is part of that mission.
Not everyone can shop at the farmers market, Boller said, but everyone should be able to enjoy the season’s best.
“It’s always really exciting when we have local produce because it’s always the freshest, most desirable,” Boller said.
Not only is local produce more nutritious and desirable Boller said, but it helps the pantry overcome one of its biggest practical challenges: perishability. Picked shortly before delivery, local produce lasts longer on the shelf.
Participating in the “Veggie RX” program is one way the Coralville pantry provides fresh produce. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), essentially a weekly subscription to a farm’s harvest, is cost prohibitive for many low-income community members. Using funding from community partners, the pantry is able to purchase CSA shares from local farmers for enrolled pantry members.
Many local farmers donate excess produce to the pantry as well. In addition, Boller regularly orders local fruits and veggies by the case through Field to Family as a wholesale customer.
“Being able to purchase from the food hub has been a really wonderful way to get that produce,” Boller said.
By logging into the food hub’s online storefront, Boller can see exactly what’s in season year round and shop from many producers with just one click. Free delivery is another perk for the pantry’s small nonprofit team.
On occasion, Field to Family is even able to provide free cases of produce to the pantry. The partnership helps the pantry put more local food on its shelves overall, Boller said.