Food Security & Access
The Cape Farm Alliance helps to increase the visibility of and access to local healthy food. We feel it’s vitally important to strengthen our local food system for a variety of reasons such as reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, encouraging a strong local economy and for reasons of health and well-being.
We will continue to explore the question of “How Cape Elizabeth can feed itself” into the future. Right now we’re working on increasing fresh food access for those facing economic challenges via a new initiative called Judy’s Produce Pantry.
Judy’s Produce Pantry
Any Cape resident with limited resources, struggling to feed themselves or their families can access healthy foods at no charge at a weekly (summer & fall) pantry at the Methodist Church on Rte. 77 (next to Jonesy’s). Judy’s Produce Pantry was started in 2010 in memory of Judy Simonds, who was one of the founders of the Cape Community Garden. The pantry will be open summer 2012 on Tuesday afternoons from 3:00 – 5:30 starting June 26 and running up to Thanksgiving. There is no paperwork and no income criteria required to use the pantry, but it is limited, for now, to Cape residents. Please bring a shopping bag for your produce.
Over 2300 pounds of 26 varieties of fruits and vegetables were distributed to pantry visitors in 2011. The vegetables came from several plots at the two Cape Community Gardens, from Cape residents who shared from their own gardens, and from several Cape farmers.
Residents interested in participating in sharing the harvest – either as a recipient, a donor of produce from backyard gardens, or as a volunteer to staff the pantry – can contact Nancy Miles confidentially at nmiles@maine.rr.com or 767-1031.
Other ways to access fresh local food:
- Community Gardens
- Grow-Your-Own (MOFGA, Cooperative Extension and Portland Maine Permaculture are good local resources).
- Places to use your EBT Card for fresh local produce (coming soon)
- The Winter Cache Project runs a program in which you join in as a volunteer for farm work parties in exchange for receiving a distribution of the produce (root cellared, preserved, fresh, etc.) throughout the winter. No cash changes hands.
- Maine Senior Farm Shares.
- You can also find out about food assistance programs here.
- Fresh produce from the Wm. H. Jordan Farm is available at The Food Cupboard (South Portland), Preble Street Resource Center, Good Shepherd Food Bank, The Root Cellar, White Memorial and various other food pantries.
