“Farm Bag” is a new fund-raising opportunity for community-based organizations, based on improving options for healthy food choices. The project is a collaboration between two South Okanagan businesses, and it will support local food-growers with fair wages, while making fresh produce affordable and available in the form of bags of fresh fruit and vegetables for each subscriber, delivered monthly to the participating groups. The Farm Bag program is also available to schools in the South Okanagan and Keremeos and Cawston.
“The fundraising program was built to answer several needs simultaneously: getting healthy, fresh food to families, giving non profit groups high-return opportunities for raising funds and supporting local agriculture. We’re really excited to have settled on this model because it feels like win-win-win” says Farm Bag program coordinator, Jennifer Vincent “One of the great things about the Farm Bag program is that it provides a commodity we all need - food. And good, local, fresh food. Who can say no to that?”
The fundraiser is seeking applications from community-based organizations in the South Okanagan. Participant groups will sell seven-month subscriptions which provide a 20 pound bag of fresh, seasonal produce for every subscriber each month from October to April. The cost to buyers is $175 ($25 per month). Each month the Farm Bag will contain six to eight different types of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Groups will receive 20 per cent (or $5) for every bag sale. The Farm Bag program is intended to help raise funds for green initiatives or projects for schools or for supporting the goals of community-focussed groups.
An added incentive for groups is the option for them to become hubs for providing fresh food to the general community.
“By supporting small-scale agriculture and B.C. farmers, you are putting your dollar into the creation of a local food economy” says Farm Bag supplier Thomas Tumbach.
The partnership between Vincent and Tumbach is a synergistic one - Vincent has experience with online projects, marketing and community liaising. Tumbach brings years of farming and distribution experience to the program. Both are confident that the fundraising program will be a successful ongoing opportunity for years to come.
Groups wishing to participate need to have their orders in by September 28. The program has capacity for 16 groups to participate.
The Farm Bag fundraiser program is also available for schools. Anyone interested in learning more about the Farm Bag program should email farmbag@littlegreenbook.ca or visit http://farmbag.littlegreenbook.ca
- Jennifer Vincent