Partner Farms – Community Hunger Solutions

We provide access to the nutritious, primarily organic produce grown by farmers in our bountiful “Driftless Region”

Partnering with Local Farmers

Partly due to stringent retail standards for size, shape, color, and other aesthetic details, farmers are only able to market about 50% of their crops to retail outlets. The other 50% of produce is considered “seconds” and often is left to rot in the field if no market can be found for it. Farmers in the region sell quality seconds produce to CHS for food pantries at below wholesale rates. This increases their business capacity by giving them an additional market for as much as 50% of each crop.

The four-year total (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016) that was paid to family farms by CHS was $66,660 for nutritious seconds.

Other generous farmers support this project by offering their leftover produce to be harvested by volunteers and paid workers with varying abilities for local hunger relief.

“As a small farm, we are thrilled to be a part of this effort. No matter what size the farm, there will always be unused/unsalable produce. CHS has become a natural extension of our farming efforts. As a small farm, time management is critical to everything that we do. CHS provides not only critical nutritious produce to those who need it most, but also a service to us in assisting us with harvesting and transportation. We will continue to seek out opportunities to work with CHS every growing season. Our partnership is a win-win for all and we are honored to play a role in nourishing our community.”
– Toril Fisher, Second Cloud On The Left Farm

Local Farms We Work With:

Clark Farms

Immanuel Church
Community Garden

Thimmesch
Family Farm

EZ Farming

Justin Trussoni Produce

Ella Bella Farm

… and more than 40 certified organic Amish Farms…

“Without our partner farms, we wouldn’t be able to do the work that we do. The success that CHS has accomplished in responding to local hunger issues is fully dependent on the many community partnerships that we’ve been able to establish. This is a true testament of a community supported local foods movement!”
– Gary Thompson, Community Hunger Solutions, Co-Founder

“Good farmers, who take seriously their duties as stewards of Creation and of their land’s inheritors, contribute to the welfare of society in more ways than society usually acknowledges, or even knows. These farmers produce valuable goods, of course; but they also conserve soil, they conserve water, they conserve wildlife, they conserve open space, they conserve scenery.”
― Wendell Berry