Types of food grown for food banks

**A* <g*@earthlink.net>**

Hi, Folks!
Talk to your food bank's staff and find out what their clients will want or
eat. Here in Phoenixville, there is no such thing as too many tomatoes --
folks grab them first. I had a request for cherry tomatoes because kids
that won't eat their vegetables will try them first and often, then
discover that veggies aren't so bad and will eat more variety afterwards.
Our food bank's clients aren't very adventurous -- if they don't recognize
something, they won't take it. Since I personally grow a lot of
heirloom/"weird looking stuff," I donate only the things that look like
what the clients would see in the grocery store -- the heirloom stuff I
give to people that I know who will cook it themselves and tell others
about it. Eventually, they learn to like the "weird" stuff and look
forward to it -- in my case, that means leeks, Dinosaur Kale, vegetable
spaghetti, tomatoes of strange shape, garlic scapes etc.
Don't assume anything when it comes to veggies (I never knew that leeks
were an "unusual vegetable") -- talk to your food bank's staff and find out
what their clients want to see in the basket. Start with what they are
comfortable and then gradually expand your offerings based on staff &
client input.
Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator
St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden
A mission of
St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA  19460

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