Sharing the Harvest: WIC Office's Pilot Farm Share Program

Adapted from guest post contributed by Lizzie Cunningham, Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educator

In the heart of Hancock County, a remarkable initiative took root during the month of August, nurturing families and forging a stronger bond between Healthy Acadia’s Healthy Food for All team and the Downeast WIC clinic in Hancock County. A newly launched pilot farm share program, a collaborative effort of Healthy Acadia's Downeast Gleaning Initiative, Maine SNAP-Ed, and WIC, aimed to provide targeted produce shares, along with recipes and nutritional guidance, to families benefiting from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Hancock County. Over the course of four weeks, 37 different families received these bountiful produce shares, all made possible through the dedicated partnership with Rebecca MacLean, the WIC Nutrition Coordinator.

At its core, this initiative was an integral part of Lizzie's SNAP-Ed objectives – a commitment to enhancing access to farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, while simultaneously empowering families with the culinary skills and knowledge needed to thrive. For years, the WIC office had graciously accepted boxes of gleaned produce from the Downeast Gleaning Initiative. These boxes were placed in the office and offered to families on a first-come, first-served basis. However, as Rebecca and Lizzie astutely observed, the utilization of this produce was far from optimal.

In response, they embarked on a mission to reduce food waste and create a more meaningful connection between families and the bounty of fresh produce. Thus, the pilot farm share program was born. The crux of this innovative approach involved personally handing out targeted produce shares to families during their scheduled appointments. Each share was not only brimming with wholesome produce but also included supplementary information. This material offered families valuable insights into how to prepare, store, and cook the produce, as well as a nutritional spotlight on one of the items in the shares, be it kale or cauliflower, depending on availability from the Gleaners.

The pilot farm share program received a resounding welcome from the community. Families expressed their excitement when picking up their produce shares, and an impressive 60% of families who responded to the post-survey found value in the supplementary materials we provided. "The bag pick-ups went so well last week!” said Rebecca. “…people were really excited about the bags. I even had one kid ripping off leaves of lettuce and eating them on his way out the door!"

Furthermore, 60% of respondents confirmed that receiving these produce bags significantly increased their likelihood of incorporating more fresh produce into their cooking routines, while 40% noted a moderate increase in this likelihood. Participants had glowing feedback, with one stating, "I loved the fresh blueberries and enjoyed the zucchini. Used both in recipes." Another participant shared, "It was an awesome surprise and really helped meet my nutritional needs for the week."

To conclude, this pilot farm share program further strengthened Healthy Acadia’s partnership with our local WIC clinic, and modified an existing program connecting families receiving WIC benefits with local, gleaned produce so that families were eager to receive produce and use it in their home kitchens! Together we are illuminating the path to healthier, more vibrant communities through the simple act of sharing the harvest.

 Healthy Acadia’s Maine SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators offer year-round cooking and nutrition classes in partnership with schools and organizations throughout Hancock and Washington counties. To learn more or schedule a class, contact Mandy or Shannon in Washington County, and Isi or Lizzie in Hancock County.