Delaware Farm Initiative Feeds Children, Supports Farmers and Creates Second Chances

Delaware officials have launched an innovative partnership they believe could transform the way locally grown food reaches children while simultaneously strengthening agriculture, creating workforce opportunities and helping prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reentry into their communities.

The new Farm to Processing Initiative, announced during a ceremony at Sussex Correctional Institution (SCI), brings together the Governor's Office, the Delaware Farm and Food Policy Council, the Department of Correction, the Department of Education, local farmers and Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware in what organizers describe as a first-of-its-kind collaboration for the state.

Rather than viewing childhood hunger, agricultural sustainability, food processing and workforce development as separate challenges, the initiative combines them into a single solution. Fresh fruits and vegetables grown by Delaware farmers are transported to the Sussex Community Corrections Center, where residents clean, cut and package the produce before it is delivered to organizations serving children and families.

Nikko Brady, Deputy Chief of Staff for Climate, Food Systems and Planning in the Office of the Governor, said the initiative builds on years of work by the Delaware Farm and Food Policy Council to strengthen the state's local food system.

"Since 2018, we've been focused on enhancing the capacity of our local food supply chain, so Delaware-grown products reach our communities while improving the health of Delawareans," Brady said.

Brady thanked Department of Correction Commissioner Terra Taylor and her staff for embracing an unconventional partnership and recognized Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware for agreeing to pioneer the pilot program.

Nancy Staisey, chair of the Delaware Farm and Food Policy Council, said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted weaknesses in food distribution systems and reinforced the need to strengthen Delaware's food infrastructure.

The council has spent years expanding "Farm to" initiatives that connect Delaware agriculture with schools, childcare centers and community organizations. The Farm to Processing Initiative addresses what she described as one of the state's greatest needs—a reliable food processing system capable of preparing fresh produce for institutional meal programs.

Initially, the processing center handled cucumbers, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, strawberries and cantaloupe, with additional products expected as the growing season continues and more growers become involved.

Staisey described the initiative as benefiting nearly every segment of Delaware's food system.

"It's a win for farmers because we're buying local products. It's a win for children to receive healthy foods. It's a win for taxpayers, for our food system, for the local economy and for the residents learning valuable job skills," she said. "It's far beyond a win-win."

For the Department of Correction, the initiative represents another step in preparing incarcerated individuals for successful lives after release.

Commissioner Terra Taylor said residents participating in the program receive training in food safety, produce handling and commercial food processing while earning community service credits that may be applied toward certain court-ordered financial obligations.

"Our partnership with the Farm to Processing Initiative is about much more than food," Taylor said. "It's about purpose. It's about giving people the opportunity to demonstrate they can make a positive contribution."

Participants also gain workforce experience in an industry that continues to need trained employees while helping provide nutritious food to children throughout Delaware.

For Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, the partnership fulfills a vision that began several years ago with a small educational garden at its Seaford Club.

Food Program Development Director Tony Windsor explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization received a Specialty Crop Block Grant to establish what became known as “The Mini-Farm” while expanding its self-preparation meal program.

The original goal was to supplement meals served at the Seaford Club with fresh vegetables grown by club members. The project quickly became an educational success, but physical limitations prevented it from reaching more than about 150 children.

That changed when the Farm to Processing Initiative connected the organization with local farmers while providing the infrastructure needed to process fresh produce before it reached club kitchens. "It was manna from heaven," Windsor said. "It answered the challenges we couldn't solve ourselves."

Since the pilot began in April, Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware has purchased more than 5,000 pounds of produce from participating Delaware farms. What began as a project serving approximately 150 children has expanded to incorporate fresh Delaware-grown fruits and vegetables into approximately 1,800 meals each week served through Boys & Girls Clubs programs in Kent and Sussex counties.

Windsor said the initiative has also demonstrated that purchasing locally grown produce can reduce costs while improving the nutritional value of meals served to children.

Kent County farmer David Marvel said the initiative addresses a problem Delaware farmers have faced for decades.

While growers have been able to produce high-quality fruits and vegetables, the state has lacked sufficient processing capacity to prepare those products for schools, nonprofits and other institutional buyers.

"This pilot program really is an answer to our prayers," Marvel said. "We can grow the produce. What we've needed is the ability to process it."

Marvel noted that Delaware once supported numerous food-processing facilities that handled tomatoes, lima beans and other crops before many eventually closed. He believes rebuilding that capacity is critical to the future of family farming and creating opportunities for the next generation of farmers.

Gov. Matt Meyer called the initiative an example of government agencies and community organizations working together to solve multiple problems at once.

He said the program addresses childhood hunger, supports Delaware farmers, reduces food waste, strengthens local agriculture, creates meaningful workforce opportunities and provides incarcerated individuals with genuine second chances.

"Every cucumber sliced and every vegetable packed represents two investments at once," Meyer said. "It's an investment in healthier kids and an investment in real opportunity and real second chances."

The governor praised the collaboration among the Departments of Agriculture, Education and Correction, the Delaware Farm and Food Policy Council, local farmers and Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, saying the partnership demonstrates what can be accomplished when agencies break down traditional barriers to work toward common goals.

The pilot currently partners with three farms in Kent and Sussex counties and involves approximately 20 correctional residents who volunteer to participate in the program. Organizers say additional farms, schools and community organizations are expected to join as the initiative expands.

For those involved, the program represents more than simply moving fresh produce from Delaware farms to children's plates. It is an investment in healthier communities, stronger local agriculture and new opportunities for individuals seeking a better future.