As the Program Coordinator of the Food Hub, I want to take a moment to shine a light on one of my favorite programs at Feast Down East: Farmers Fighting Hunger.

Farmers Fighting Hunger is our no-cost food relief program designed to support both local farmers and community members experiencing food insecurity. We partner with local food pantries, churches, and other organizations that have deep ties to their communities and are already doing the essential work of food distribution.

Each week the program is active, our community partners are given a stipend to shop on our online marketplace where they can source local, farm fresh products for the people they serve. These partner agencies are ordering and receiving the same products as our wholesale customers, which comprises of local farm to table restaurants, grocers, institutions like UNCW, and more. That quality of food is unmatched.

This program is unique in a few ways;

Choice.
Unlike many food relief programs, with Farmers Fighting Hunger community partners choose the products they receive. This flexibility helps fill gaps in their food distribution, allows them to select culturally relevant food, and reduces food waste.

Fresh, high-quality food.
Our community partners have shared with us that it can be difficult to get donations of fresh fruits and vegetables and oftentimes when they do it is items that supermarkets no longer deem sellable. Through Farmers Fighting Hunger, community partners receive the same fresh, nutrient dense, locally produced food as all other Food Hub customers.

Fair pay for farmers.
Farmers set their own prices through our Food Hub, and food purchased through this program is paid at the same rate as all other wholesale avenues. Farmers Fighting Hunger helps drive sales while ensuring farmers are compensated fairly for their work.

In 2025, Farmers Fighting Hunger distributed nearly 30,000 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, and other local products. The program accounted for 12% of total farmer sales through our Food Hub, supporting more than 30 local farmers. We partnered with 13 community organizations, prioritizing those serving rural communities, seniors, and children. In years past and when fully funded, this program has the potential to make up 30% of our total farmer sales. The need is there by our community, and our farmers are ready and wanting to meet that.

The economic and social impact of this program is far-reaching. Farmers Fighting Hunger strengthens our local food economy while addressing food insecurity for some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

A special thank you to Anonymous Trust, The Camber Foundation, and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. This program would not be possible without their support or without the generosity of people like you. If you’re interested in supporting this work, please visit our donation page or reach out directly if you are interested in learning more!

With gratitude,
Casey Strout
Programs Coordinator, Food Hub