Farm Credit has provided over $30,000 for FAKH through ongoing partnership
Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH) recently received a donation of 10,000 pounds of fresh vegetables through an ongoing partnership with Farm Credit Mid-America. These vegetables were distributed across the region to support individuals and families facing food insecurity. Through an ongoing partnership between FAKH and Farm Credit Mid-America, approximately $30,600 has been provided for FAKH to fulfill the organization’s mission of providing fresh produce to neighbors facing hunger.
Each year, regional Farm Credit employees are paired with a local farmer to glean surplus produce which is then donated to local food banks. In September, Farm Credit employees, along with those from Rural 1, harvested 10,000 pounds of fresh vegetables from Dennison’s Roadside Market in Horse Cave. This produce was donated to FAKH, where it was distributed to support individuals and families throughout the region.
Through ongoing funding from Farm Credit, FAKH has distributed over 275,000 pounds of healthy fruits and vegetables since 2018.
“We are so grateful to be able to partner with our customers, local food banks and distribution centers to ensure that excess produce doesn’t go to waste,” shared Sarah Adams, Financial Officer at Farm Credit Mid-America. “By providing fresh produce to families in need and highlighting the role of the agriculture industry at the local level, we’re able to make a real difference.”
Despite an abundance of food grown in the region through Kentucky’s rich agricultural heritage, families in under-resourced communities and food deserts struggle to access fresh fruits and vegetables. Through the support of the Farms to Food Banks program—a legislative initiative that helps farmers prevent food waste—the collaboration between Farm Credit Mid-America and FAKH ensures that nutritious food makes its way from local farms to the tables of those in need.
“Farm Credit Mid-America’s support of FAKH through their time, funds and connections to our agricultural community allows us to provide fresh, locally-grown food to families who regularly face hunger,” said Charles Dennis, Executive Director of FAKH. “This partnership is all about ensuring that our communities have access to healthy, locally-grown foods, and that the hard work of our farmers goes toward nourishing communities.”
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About Farm Credit Mid-America
A proud member of the Farm Credit System, Farm Credit Mid-America exists to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture as a leading provider of reliable, consistent credit and financial services to farmers, producers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. The customer-owned cooperative serves more than 140,000 customers and manages a portfolio of $39.5 billion in total earning assets owned and managed. Farm Credit Mid-America’s products and services include loans for real estate, operating, equipment, rural living, crop insurance and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information, visit www.fcma.com.