08/26/2026
πββοΈ Weβve been busy!! Thank goodness for community helping community! π«ΆπΌ
π₯ Nearly 45,000 pounds of Southwest Michigan-grown food. More than $20,000 invested directly into Michigan agriculture. Over 4,000 households served. All in one month.
This August, the Nutrition Exchange of Southwest Michigan partnered with Feeding America West Michigan through the MASS program to move an incredible amount of fresh, locally-grown food into Berrien County hunger relief sites.
Across two distribution weeks, we purchased and distributed:
π 18,520 lbs. of Paula Red and Zestar apples
π½ 12,500 lbs. of locally grown sweet corn
π 5,000 lbs. of Red Haven peaches
π« 5,000 lbs. of peppers
π
3,950 lbs. of tomatoes
Thatβs 44,970 pounds of fresh produce, sourced from Barden Farms, Bixby Farms, Mark Epple Farm, and Harner Farms.
And the impact goes both ways.
π $20,083 invested directly into Michigan agriculture
π Fresh, nutrient-dense food reaching pantry shelves throughout Berrien County reaching nearly 10,000 of our neighbors in need
π Small and midsized farms connected to a growing hunger relief market for their products
This is what weβre working to build through the Nutrition Exchange: a stronger local food system where investments in nutrition security also create economic opportunity for the farmers who feed our communities.
Weβre grateful to Feeding America West Michigan for the MASS funding, to Dad's Farm Wholesale for coordinating aggregation and distribution, and to our 20+ pantry partners for getting this beautiful Michigan harvest into the hands of our neighbors!
Berrien Community Foundation Meals on Wheels of SW Michigan Food Bank Council of Michigan
