Cash crops

By 10:30 a.m. Saturday, farmer Bobby James had already sold 30 pounds of sweet potatoes to feed the hungry.

At the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, the first official FoodShare Challenge encouraged shoppers to buy and donate market items like James’ sweet potatoes to be distributed to Orange and Durham County food banks.

“One brought a $20 bill and said, ‘Pick anything you want, and I’ll donate it,’” said James, who farms at Maple Creek Farms in Cedar Grove.

By noon, event participants had collected 1,686 pounds of food. Organizers hope to make the event an annual tradition.

Margaret Gifford, the founder of the Carrboro Farmers’ Market Farmer FoodShare program, which compiles donations of food from the market all season long, said kitchens usually receive canned food, whereas this food is fresh.

“This is the finest food that’s grown around here, and we’re able to bring it to people who wouldn’t have access to it,” she said.

After meeting the original 1,000 pound goal, FoodShare decided mid-day to double the goal for the day to 2,000 pounds.

“It’s been unbelievable how generous people have been,” said Lauren Atencio, a senior and FoodShare volunteer.

Orange County’s Inter-Faith Council for Social Service will benefit from the donations.

Debra Vestal, a representative of the council, said the kitchen serves more than 7,000 meals a month.

“Primarily, the food from here goes to the kitchen,” she said.

“If there’s anything we can’t use fast enough, we send it to the pantry. It all gets used.”

Isabele Margoles, a vendor from Elysian Fields Farm, said many customers bought items to donate as they purchased for themselves.

 “A couple people have said, ‘I’ll get a cucumber for me and a cucumber for FoodShare’,” she said.

Market-goers also gave cash donations to FoodShare representatives or to vendors, allowing them to select items to donate.

Vendors regularly donate unsold products at the end of the market, but the focus on Saturday was on increasing customer contributions, Atencio said.

“Our donations usually come from the farmers, but we’ve seen such a massive outpouring of donations from shoppers,” she said.

Katrina Foskey, a market customer, said she thought the event provided an easy way to contribute to those in need.

“I’ve been trying to donate regularly, and I’m really excited they’re doing a big event,” she said.

“It’s great to see the response from the community.”


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