Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
PAOLI – An effort to bring more locally grown, nutritious food to southern Indiana communities is under way thanks to an Orange County nonprofit’s new mobile farm stand.
The Farms to Friends Farm Stand is making it easier to buy produce straight from the farm, without making a trip to the farm.
The mobile stand began visiting locations in English, Bedford and Paoli earlier this month. The stand will also travel to French Lick, West Baden and Orleans.
The Orange County Food Trust raised over $7,500 via the crowdfunding site Patronicity to build the stand, which was matched with $6,000 from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s CreatINg Places program. The sturdy-built mobile stand is a big upgrade from the tents and tables used in the past.
Debbie Turner, board member of Lost River Co-op & Cafe and a volunteer with Orange County Food Trust, said the idea for the mobile stand began with the question of “how can it feed its less fortunate members such as the elderly and children?”
“We have an abundance of local produce when we partner with our Amish neighbors,” Turner said. “The Farm Stand and some of our food access programs help create new markets for our local growers, Amish or young growers trying to develop farms, so that they grow more and consistently over the years.”
Despite the region’s agricultural abundance, accessing locally grown produce remains a challenge – especially for low-income families, seniors and those in food desert communities.
According to the Orange County Food Trust, in Orange County, 13% of residents (2,560 people) experience food insecurity, and 17% of Indiana households with children struggle to afford nutritious food.
Last week the farm stand visited Cambridge Square Apartments in Bedford and was greeted with a long line of customers. Hoosier Uplands provided vouchers to about 80 residents, which allowed them to purchase $20 worth of fruits, vegetables and pre-made salads.
Rebekah Hawkins, Hoosier Uplands program manager, said many Cambridge Square residents lack personal transportation.
“This is huge for them,” she said of residents being able to shop for food right outside their doors.
Hoosier Uplands received a grant targeting older adults to provide the food vouchers and then partnered with the Orange County Food Trust to bring the farm stand to the apartment complex.
“It was a huge hit!” Hawkins said. “The residents were excited and lined up and I think it was great to get them outside and able to shop for themselves.”
Farm stand well received
In just a few weeks of operating, Turner said the farm stand is off to a great start.
“We are very pleased about how it’s being received in Bedford,” Turner said. “Engleking Rx (on Lincoln Avenue) has become an enthusiastic partner, allowing the Farm Stand to use their lot. We are seeing traffic from Lincoln Plaza, Hoosier Hills Credit Union and just people stopping to shop.”
The Farms to Friends Farm Stand will operate 4-6 farmstands per week, partnering with Southern Indiana Community Health Care’s regional clinics in Bedford, Marengo, Paoli, West Baden and Mitchell/Orleans. These clinics are already frequented by seniors and families, making them ideal locations to connect people with fresh, nutritious food.
The mobile farm stand may be new, but the effort actually began a few years ago in Crawford County.
Turner said weekly visits to English with a tent and tables demonstrated the need and demand for locally grown produce.
On average, 25 customers visited the English stand, generating $4,500 in revenue.
“This experience proves that a farm stand model works in our region and that this expansion will have an immediate and lasting impact,” said Janet Kennedy, chairwoman of Orange County Food Trust.
More food programs
Lost River Co-op and Orange County Food Trust cooperate to bring food distribution programs such as CSA, subscription based weekly produce boxes, Food as Medicine and meal kits, smaller Produce for Better Health packaging and now the new Farm Stand with vouchers for free produce for those in need.
Lost River Co-op & Cafe has a Bag of Basics program, which provides $25 of free groceries or a $10 meal voucher to those in need. The program is funded by community donations.
The Farms to Friends Farm Stand schedule is updated weekly and posted here.