Potatoes and potential

What do you do with almost 20,000 pounds of potatoes?

If you’re First Fruits Farm in Freeland, Maryland, you give them away, and the seniors, families and communities served by Catholic Charities reap the harvest.

Last Thursday, April 24, staff who were not involved in direct care for neighbors in need convoyed to First Fruits Farm in Freeland to pick up the potatoes and take them to various Catholic Charities Senior Communities. Those communities often receive pantry items to help residents, who are all on low fixed incomes, with meals. 

In addition, 2,500 pounds went to Eric Jackson, a partner of Catholic Charities in the Cherry Hill community. Jackson is involved in the community kitchen initiative that will launch in the Cherry Hill Town Center when the recently initiated renovations are complete. For now, the 2,500 pounds of spuds will go to individuals and families in the community who otherwise might not have access to fresh food. 

Again this week, First Fruits donated another 10,000 pounds, which Catholic Charities picked up and distributed to families and communities in need, including Catholic Charities Head Start of Baltimore City families.

First Fruits is not a sales-driven farm. Everything the team there grows is given away.

The potential isn’t hard to spot. Like many growers, suppliers, vendors and chefs, First Fruits Farms turned a supply into a powerful show of support that will translate to healthy, sustaining meals for thousands of Marylanders. 

Now that’s a good way to stretch a starch.