SACRAMENTO, PA - More families have gained access to fresh produce thanks to Fresh Solutions Network member Sterman Masser Farms®. The Sacramento, Pennsylvania-based potato provider recently aligned with the Society of St. Andrews (SoSA) to host the first annual Potato Palooza event on October 7. The community-wide event served as a prime opportunity to glean and share farm-fresh food in local communities.
“Sterman Masser Farms and event organizer SoSA invited various retail banners of Ahold USA as well as community members to partner in gleaning potato fields (R/D plots) that are otherwise not utilized in Sterman Masser Farms pack shed,” said Dave Masser, President. “With a goal to raise donations to local food pantries and food distribution agencies, this inaugural event provides a unique opportunity to come together and make a difference.”
To feed hungry people and raise awareness of such issues, Sterman Masser Farms hosted the event at the Masser Seed and Research Facility in Sacramento, Pennsylvania, where 30 volunteers gathered and packed 14,400 lbs, or 18 bins, of potatoes—the equivalent of 43,000 servings.
Lela Reichart, Executive Vice-President of Sterman Masser Farms, also commented on the partnership.
“Working in partnership with SoSA, we were excited to ‘Grow experiences that Nourish’ and give back to our local community members,” commented Reichart. “As an eighth-generation family-owned potato farm, we are committed to serving those in need, especially when we can provide much-needed nourishment.”
The SoSA partners with farmers, donors, volunteers, churches, community organizations, and large national movements to harvest and share healthy food, reduce food waste, and build caring communities to support the food insecure, a press release explained.
“Recent estimates show that roughly 40 million Americans struggle with access to the proper quantity and quality of food to live a healthy lifestyle,” noted Allyson Ey, Operations Director of SoSA. “The SoSA network shares the same values of Sterman Masser to strengthen local communities, and sustainably harvest and provide healthy food to our neighbors in need.”
Cheers to this inspiring effort to increase produce access!
