FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Starting today, Cape Fear Farm Credit (CFFC) will be partnering with local farmers to share their fresh produce with food donation centers and families by packaging these products to provide a traditional ‘southern produce bag.’ The bags will be distributed by CFFC branches through local area partners to make sure families have healthy, local food on their plates throughout recent difficult periods.
“Farming has always been a big part of this community. When Cape Fear Farm Credit came to us with this great way to support our communities through this unstable time, we didn’t hesitate to say yes,” said Chandler Worley, CFFC farmer customer-owner and owner of Chandler Worley Farms.
Working with local farmer customer-owners to secure a range of produce including corn, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, squash, zucchini, blueberries, blackberries and more, all nine CFFC branches plan to fill bags with fresh local produce. The Association will pack and distribute over 650 bags to local communities with enough produce to feed 2,600 people. All nine branches, over 80 employees, will complete their local deliveries each week throughout July.
Each Branch donation will occur according to the below schedule:
- Whiteville Branch: Wednesday, July 1
- Burgaw Branch: Wednesday, July 8
- Fayetteville Branch: Wednesday, July 8
- Elizabethtown Branch: Thursday, July 9
- Raeford Branch: Thursday, July 9
- Harnett County: Tuesday, July 14
- Kenansville Branch: Wednesday, July 15
- Lumberton Branch: Thursday, July 16
- Clinton Branch: Friday, July 17
Cape Fear Farm Credit emphasizes strengthening communities and fosters a culture of service as they encourage employees to support those communities. Working together with customers to fulfill the credit needs of part and full-time farmers and rural homeowners, Cape Fear Farm Credit serves and aids customers in achieving their goals and dreams, while building these stronger communities.
“We are here to serve, whether that is serving our customers, our communities or both. It’s an important responsibility,” said CEO Evan Kleinhans. “We are thankful to have a great team that respects that responsibility and is passionate about our shared purpose of serving agriculture to enrich the lives of others.”
The produce bag distributions will kick off today starting with the Whiteville Branch and going to families throughout the Whiteville community.
You can find accompanying digital assets here: https://we.tl/t-UUAlU79Yh7
–Joshua Daugette, Cape Fear Farm Credit