Salvation Farms and Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley Launch Bounty Share, Locally Gleaned Produce Direct to Patients

Salvation Farms and Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley have partnered to provide a weekly supply of fresh produce to eligible patients this fall. The pilot, called Bounty Share, is an element of Salvation Farms’ Lamoille Valley Gleaning program. Fruits and vegetables are gleaned by Salvation Farms staff and volunteers from farms in the Lamoille Valley, capturing surplus, edible produce that would otherwise be left in the field or harvested but without a market. The service demonstrates Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley’s commitment to community-centered, preventative health care.

Eligible patients are identified and enrolled by Community Health Team Members of Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley on the basis of food insecurity and chronic disease. Four institutions are participating this fall: Morrisville Family Health Care; Stowe Family Practice; The Women’s Center at Copley Hospital; Behavioral Health and Wellness Center. Twelve patients and their families are enrolled in the six week program.

Patients pick up a box of fruits and vegetables from the doctor’s office each week. Produce is seasonal and locally-sourced; this pilot will feature fall apples, winter squash, cooking greens, potatoes, carrots and beets. Recipes and crop information accompany the produce, as well as in-person support from Community Health Team Members and University of Vermont Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program staff. Taste tests, cooking classes, wellness workshops, and opportunities to join in gleaning vegetables from local farms are all part of plans to continue enriching the Bounty Share program and community impact.

Salvation Farms and Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley share an interest in increasing access to Vermont-grown produce for all individuals, especially those experiencing barriers to healthy lifestyles. This partnership represents a significant step towards strengthening the connection between farms, fresh produce, and health care in the Lamoille Valley.

For more information on Salvation Farms, visit www.salvationfarms.org. For more information on Community Health Services of Lamoille Valley, visit www.chslv.org. For Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program nutrition education and home visit services in Lamoille Valley, contact Katie Black, UVM Extension EFNEP Educator: 802-888-4972.