CURRENT ONGOING PROJECTS

Project 1

Project Title: Donation of Fruits and Vegetables

Agency: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Project Implementation & Completion Dates: Ongoing Effort

Project Description: The department operates 4 farmers markets and 6 research farms that have established regular, ongoing programs to donate unsold and excess fruits and vegetables to other state agencies, federal agencies, schools, and private outreach programs. Because fresh fruits and vegetables have very limited shelf life for appearance and freshness, vendors at the farmers markets are constantly refreshing the items offered for sale. The managers of the farmers markets have taken steps to provide vendors with outlets for their unsold fruits and vegetables. The estimated amount of donated produce for 1999 was 1,000,000 pounds.

The research farms are dedicated to providing a setting for university researchers to experiment with new growing techniques and varieties. In the course of the experimental work, more fruits and vegetables may be produced than is needed for the research project. The farm managers must either find an agency willing to take the excess produce or spread the produce over fields and consider it to be organic material to improve the soil. The first choice is to locate a public agency willing to accept the items. On an annual basis, the six research farms will distribute approximately 140,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables

Contacts:

Louis Johnson, Assistant Director, Marketing
Farmers Markets
(919)733-7136
Louis.Johnson@ncmail.net

Sandy Maddox, Assistant Director, Research Stations
(919)733-3236
Sandy.Maddox@ncmail.net

Anticipated Environmental Sustainability Benefits: With over one million pounds of wholesome food items donated to agencies that have a need for the items, money that would otherwise be spent on food can be spent on other worthwhile endeavors. Also, if not for this effort, much of the excess produce would eventually find its way to city landfills. If sent to landfills, each farmers market would incur additional expense in handling its waste disposal. The situation with the research farms is quite different. Because produce, when applied to the land, is simply another form of organic matter, there is some benefit in using the excess produce that way. However, it is management’s philosophy that the first choice for disposing of excess produce should be for human needs.