The Old North State is doing its part to put an end to hunger.
This past summer, legislators and business leaders gathered at Pamlico Shores Produce in Hyde County for the kickoff of a pilot program designed to eliminate food waste in North Carolina. The program, called Perfectly Imperfect Produce, was spearheaded by the North Carolina Association of Feeding America Food Banks, which is a part of Feeding America and helps to promote food recovery.
Pamlico Shores Produce, headquartered in Swanquarter, installed a new potato bagger that would catch low-grade potatoes and culls that would otherwise be thrown away. The rescued potatoes were then distributed to the state’s seven food banks.
Guests were treated to a tour of the facility and farm operations, and then three panel discussions took place after lunch, focusing on the issues surrounding food security and hunger in North Carolina. Speakers included NCFB President Larry Wooten, Dr. Richard Reich of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, N.C. Rep. Bob Steinburg, and more.
Through initiatives like the one at Pamlico Shores Produce and others farms across the state, the N.C. Association of Feeding America Food Banks hopes to prevent close to 125 million pounds of produce each year from being discarded. For more information or to learn how you can help, visit ncfoodbanks.org.
– Rachel Bertone
