Sponsor a Share Press Release

LOCAL FARM AND FRIENDS TO FEED STRUGGLING FAMILIES

Heron Pond Farm and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Members to Provide Local Food Banks/Families With Fresh Local Veggies.

Tough economic times mean more families struggle to put food on the table. Heron Pond Farm and the members of it's CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program are backing up their mission to "build community through local agriculture," with free, weekly, shares of fresh vegetables and produce to families in need.  CSA members have the option to donate money towards the shares.  Heron Pond Farm will match every complete share contributed.  Saint John's Church food bank in Portsmouth, NH and Our Neighbors Table in Amesbury, MA will receive the shares and pass them out to anonymous families in need every week during the growing season.  "Adopted" CSA members are members in full standing, and will pick up their fresh food each week at either the farm or St. Johns location just like any other member. Non-CSA members are welcome to contribute through by filling out a CSA form and checking the Sponsor a Share box only.  Four hundred fifty dollars purchases one family enough fresh local vegetables for 20 weeks but you can donate as much or little as you like.

"One of our members suggested we donate any extra food after a market," says Andre Cantelmo, proprietor of Heron Pond Farm. Teaming up with it's CSA members to contribute formally was the next logical step, Cantelmo says.  "Access to fresh, delicious, local food shouldn't be hindered by economic barriers. " he says. Soup kitchens and food banks, naturally, have to keep non-perishable stores on hand.  The fresh shares offer something different for adopted members - the flavor of fresh cut cukes, tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce and other earthly goodies. No can-openers needed.  "Nourishing our local community is job one, literally and figuratively," Cantelmo says, "Making healthy choices should not be about how big your bank account is."

“This is nothing short of huge for us.” says Rosemary Werner executive director of Our Neighbors Table. “The number one thing lacking in our food programs are fresh vegetables. Having the ability to acquire them locally is fantastic.” Kids needing access to healthy food is also of primary concern,”for some of these kids this will be their only experience with fresh food.” says Werner. “We gave generously because we were thinking of the kids,” says Gabe Porter, shareholder in Heron Pond Farm, “we feel so fortunate to have access to this great local food, we wanted to share our fortune.” “Common Table is feeding 120 families a week right here in Portsmouth,” says Jim Rollins, St. Johns parish member and shareholder at Heron Pond “this food helps Common Table get families the nutritious foods they need to stay healthy and introduces good fresh vegetables to the kids.”

Heron Pond Farm has been serving the community fresh local vegetables since 1998. The farms mission is to build community through local agriculture. Community supported agriculture shares, Farmers markets, farm stand, and food bank outreach are some of the tools Heron Pond uses to build a healthy community.

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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Andre Cantelmo, please call 603-591-8720 or e-mail Andre at andre@heronpondfarm.com