FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Salem, MA (August 20,2024) — In January 2024, The Salem Pantry was honored to be among 16 organizations awarded funding through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program. This program aims to support socially disadvantaged farmers and producers in delivering food to underserved communities.

Eight months into the funding period, The Salem Pantry has found the support crucial for maintaining partnerships with local farms and adding new vendors. This funding enables the pantry to supply locally sourced produce, eggs, dairy, and protein to over 3,600 families every month, and has allowed them to directly purchase from seven new vendors.

“Fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy and eggs are often hard to access through pantry programs,” states Robyn Burns, The Salem Pantry’s Executive Director. “Our partnership with MDAR and our local farming community allows for us to more consistently provide healthy produce options for pantry guests and support our local farming economy, at the same time.”
The funding has also improved the pantry’s ability to offer a variety of culturally relevant foods, meeting the diverse needs of their guests.

“Working with The Salem Pantry has been a milestone for us,” said Freddy Pina, owner of Bright Oasis Farm, “as it aligns with our goal to nourish communities in need through healthy food. The pantry’s approach deeply resonated with me and reinforced my commitment to this partnership.”

With 10 months left in the funding cycle, The Salem Pantry is focused on building stronger relationships with its vendors and continuing to provide locally sourced food. The organization will seek additional support from donors and corporate sponsors to maintain these efforts beyond the current funding period.
The food purchased through this program is distributed at 11 mobile pantry sites and at The Market, The Salem Pantry’s main location. In July 2024, 3,515 households visited these sites a total of 8,540 times, highlighting the growing need and impact of the pantry’s services.

About The Salem Pantry
The Salem Pantry, recently named the 2024 Greater Boston Food Bank Community Partner of the Year, provides the North Shore with convenient access to fresh, free, healthy food. Its innovative mobile pantries, home delivery program, food distribution hub, and The Market offer abundant produce, proteins, spices, and dairy products. They partner with local farmers and health organizations to serve over 3,600 households and distribute over 300,000 pounds of food per month.