FAQ: FarmLink

What is the purpose of the FarmLink Program?

  • FarmLink is a farm-to-food bank initiative aiming to improve access to healthy foods, with the goal of fostering a more equitable food system.

What is the FarmLink model?

  • FarmLink contracts with local farms to grow produce specifically for distribution to the food bank’s local network of pantries. It supports local food production while providing fresh produce to individuals facing hunger.

Is this program open to any farmer?

  • Any historically disadvantaged farmer in our Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin footprint is encouraged to apply. At this time, we require the producer be within our footprint so we can match the grower with network partners within a 5-10 mi radius. The following counties fall within our footprint: Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara, Winnebago, Calumet, Manitowoc, Kewaunee, Door, Brown, Outagamie, Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Shawano, Lincoln, Langlade, Oconto, Menominee, Marinette, Forest, Oneida, Vilas, and Florence.

How much produce will you buy from me?

  • If accepted into the FarmLink program, the amount of produce we will purchase from you depends on program funding.

When will I find out if I’m accepted into the program?

  • After applying, farmers will be notified if they have been accepted into the program as soon as we are approved for future funding. We are expecting to hear back sometime in March or April.

If I’m accepted, when can I start selling produce to the program?

  • We will let you know at the same time we let you know if you’ve been accepted into the program. Typically, the program follows the Wisconsin growing season of May-November.

What produce can I sell to the program?

  • FarmLink aims to distribute produce to best fit the needs of the community. With that said, we purchase a wide variety of produce items. If accepted into the program, we will work with you on what produce items will be the best fit.

How must produce be packaged?

  • Because the purchased produce is distributed to the same network partners each week during the growing season, FarmLink can provide collapsible, reusable crates to producers to pack and transport product. We do require that producers weigh all produce and keep track of weights/product distributed to each partner.

How is pricing set?

  • We adjust prices at the beginning of each growing season to match the competitive market. For reference, in the 2022 growing season, we paid $0.45/lb for all conventional produce & $0.65/lb for all organic produce. We are looking to raise prices per pound to better match market inflation for the 2023 season.

Where and when do I deliver produce?

  • If accepted into the program, we will match you up with several network partners of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in your area. These partners will be responsible for picking up product from your farm location on a weekly or biweekly basis. We will create a rough schedule for these pickups and you will be responsible for the day-to-day communications with those partners.

How can I help support the FarmLink Program?

Make a donation today! You can also help spread the word about the program to your network by sharing our FarmLink video

How can I volunteer with the FarmLink program?

Please follow the link to see how you can volunteer with the FarmLink program today!