Two people walking though a garden.

From Farm, to Food Bank, to Food Pantry, to You – Part 1

Anna Glasgow, MAT
Lead Garden Specialist

Taylor Holste, MR
Nutrition Assistant Director

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a food bank that serves Wake, Durham, Johnston, Orange, Chatham, Nash, and Edgecombe counties. They are just one piece of a larger food system that ensures that people across North Carolina have access to food. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle also has two learning gardens that act as community hubs for fresh produce and gardening education.

Food systems are comprised of many levels – from farms and other sources, to food banks, to food pantries, to your table. The difference between a food bank and a food pantry is explained by our garden expert as she visits Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Camden Street Learning Garden in Raleigh to learn more about food banks, food sources, and locating a food pantry near you.

Many people who once relied on SNAP benefits may now find themselves searching for alternative food sources. In North Carolina, there is a variety of food resources available for you and your family. These resources usually provide non-perishable items such as canned vegetables, dry goods, and boxed items. However, through initiatives like the Camden Street Learning Garden, fresh produce is also incorporated into food distribution.

Versatile recipes for food received from a food pantry:

Recipe Library | NC State Extension

Features: Versatile Recipes with swap suggestions, how to preserve leftovers, with English and Spanish versions available.

Recipe Cards | NC State Extension

Features: Versatile Healthy Recipes with swap suggestions, prep instructions, how to preserve leftovers, and how to preserve fresh ingredients for long lasting use.

Features: How to make homemade stock to minimize food waste, how to build your own soup recipe that can be customized with multiple ingredients.

Features: A step-by-step process to build your own recipe.

Looking to volunteer or donate to food systems? Visit Feeding America to find your nearest food bank.


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