Through a new, state-funded program called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, the SLO Food Bank, in partnership with Harvestly, is able to supply local farmers with fresh produce.
“This program allows us to source our food from the farmers in our immediate neighborhood throughout SLO County, especially very small farmers, and ensures that they receive fair market value for the products they provide to our neighbors,” said Molly Kern, CEO of the SLO Food Bank.
For this program, Harvestly has connected all of its suppliers in SLO County to the food bank.
“They (said) if you have the products, they would be happy to buy them,” said Fallon Molnar of Molnar Cattle LLC.
Harvestly offered the avocados from Molnar Cattle’s farm, which the owner says sell quite well on the website.
“They just pay me retail price and are super generous about it,” Molnar said. “They said we’re here to support you and we want to support our local agriculture because that’s what makes the whole world go round here in San Luis Obispo County.”
With the help of federal funds from the Build Back Better Act, the SLO Food Bank is funded. Local farmers are paid retail price for their produce and their produce is then delivered to over 39,000 people in need in the community.
“Last year, the need for food bank services increased 16 percent over the previous year, so that’s a huge increase,” Kern said. “It follows last year’s increase of over 12 percent, so we’re continuing to be able to serve more and more people each month thanks to the support of our great community, but also through programs like this one that are federally approved.”
The program could soon be expanded beyond fresh fruits and vegetables.
“We also have a grass-fed beef business,” Molnar said. “That’s actually our main business. (In) the future, hopefully, with this whole grant business, they’ll expand into the protein space for the SLO Food Bank. But right now, they’re more or less limited to fruits and vegetables, which is great. We have enough avocados for everyone.”
