Farm to Food Pantry

The idea for F2FP started back in 2013 during Grower Roundtables — casual, postharvest conversations with farmers about their role in fighting local hunger. These community events were held all over Washington and brought together Harvest Against Hunger (HAH), the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), and the Washington Food Coalition (WFC). Most of the farmers at the table were small-scale market growers, working on less than 25 acres.

One big takeaway from these talks? Even a small amount of funding at the start of the season can make a huge difference for a farmer’s success.

With that in mind, WSDA’s Food Assistance partnered with HAH to not only distribute grant funds but also design and run what became the F2FP program. The pilot launched in 2014 with the goal of testing new ways to connect farmers directly with hunger relief efforts.

F2FP stands out because it does more than just buy produce. It helps small farms thrive, brings a wide variety of fresh, local produce to food pantries, builds a stronger network of local food advocates, and creates lasting relationships between farmers and hunger relief organizations. WSDA’s Food Assistance team remains committed to making these purchases in ways that truly support farmers and their communities.

Over the past 11 years, the program has grown from three agencies in three counties to 39 agencies serving 31 counties. It’s expanded to include more small farms, improved the quality and variety of produce available, and made sure more Washington families facing food insecurity have access to fresh, nutritious food grown close to home.

For more information, you can visit the Harvest Against Hunger F2FP webpage

A look at the F2FP Structure

“A healthy diet is a solution to many of our health-care problems. It’s the most important solution.”

John Mackey