SALVATION FARMS
Our Objectives, Supporting Activities, and Measures Evaluating Effectiveness

Click Here to view list & descriptions of 2007 Steering Committee

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
Prevent excess produce from being wasted and to feed our neighbors in need.

Supporting Activities: Harvest produce from supporting farms and donate it to a variety of food providers throughout the community. Donation sites include: emergency food sites, nonprofits, educational and care giving institutions, retirement communities, and the Vermont Foodbank.

Measurable Results: Document the total amount of recovered produce from farmers’ fields, along with how many pounds were donated to each site and how many individuals were affected by local produce donations.

1. OBJECTIVE:
Provide donation sites with healthy whole food as alternatives to processed, packaged goods and to introduce recipients to delicious, and less familiar nutritious produce, such as chard and turnips.

Supporting Activities: To the extent that is possible provide each donation site with a wide array of produce, along with fact sheets for distribution. Among other topics, these sheets will highlight the health benefits, storage tips, and recipes for simple preparation.

Measurable Results: Document how many pounds each site receives of each type of fruit and vegetable. Conduct pre- and post-harvest season surveys at sites to identify any changes in the recipients’ familiarity with and knowledge of the produce that was donated.

2. OBJECTIVE:
Empower individuals and foster a sense of community by providing volunteer opportunities for anyone, including those served by the donation sites. Encourage recipients to take an active role in remedying food insecurity with farm surplus alongside others committed to the same goal.

Supporting Activities: To offer an assortment of volunteer opportunities bringing people together with different interests and skills. Seek assistance with harvesting, delivering produce, maintaining files, researching, networking, fundraising, and educational outreach. Value individual contributions and recognize that this work would not be possible without the collective effort and dedication of all participants.

Measurable Results: Volunteers’ feedback will be solicited through informal conversation, a sign-in log, and an annual survey. Additionally, a quarterly potluck will be held to provide an opportunity for participants to share experiences and offer suggestions for improving relations and operations.

3. OBJECTIVE:
Promote a fresh food recovery effort that benefits the health and security of both our environment and our neighbors.

Supporting Activities: Minimize the length of time that food travels from field to table so fewer resources are consumed and produce of the highest nutritional quality is ensured.

Measurable Results: Examine mileage expenditures from the previous harvest season and determine any route changes or new connections that could translate into a more efficient operation at a lower cost. After implementing changes and completing a season, compare current and previous years’ expenditures to measure savings in terms of natural resources consumed, money spent, and time from field to table.

4. OBJECTIVE:
Enhance the recipients’ connection to local foods and farmers, and encourage their continued and long-term support of the community food systems.

Supporting Activities: Invite donation recipients to volunteer in the fields so they can become familiar with local food sources, take a proactive approach to feeding their families, and provide assistance to other Vermonters in need. For those unable to volunteer at the farms, fact sheets will offer information and resources that recipients can utilize to make community food systems more accessible and affordable.

Measurable Results: Annually increase the number of arrangements in which our donation recipients are also field volunteers. Utilize the pre- and post-harvest surveys to identify any cases in which donation recipients have sought and secured healthy food sources as a direct result of this donation program.

5. OBJECTIVE:
Generate a working fresh food recovery model that can easily be implemented and maintained by any community to remedy the lack of fresh produce available at food sites serving the nutritionally and food insecure .

Supporting Activities: Thoroughly document each step Salvation Farms takes to redirect excess produce to Vermonters in need. Evaluate each step’s effectiveness by soliciting feedback from participants, graciously accepting guidance from well-established and like-minded Vermont-based non-profits, and comparing our model to similar programs throughout the country. Adjust the model as needed.

Measurable Results: After Salvation Farms and NOFA-VT refine the fresh food recovery model, it will be promoted statewide. A community gleaning manual will be available to interested groups and updates will be sent out as its contents are altered due to revisions, legislation, and/or trial and error. A state coordinator or outreach/extension agent will initiate frequent informal contact with new gleaning groups and conduct surveys to monitor progress and identify any concerns or issues.