By Teresa McCormick

(Editor’s note: Teresa McCormick wrote this column as an email message to followers of The Good Acre)

October marked the arrival of National Farm to School Month!

Unfortunately, Oct. 1 also marked the beginning of the federal government shutdown. The impacts were and are being felt differently across our communities, and for nonprofit organizations, federal grants, contracts, and reimbursements may be delayed or suspended.

If the shutdown drags on, ripples will turn into waves as things like SNAP benefits and essential services are impacted.

For now, The Good Acre is on stable footing, in part because of our diversified funding sources and partner contracts.

If you’re looking to buoy us, you can purchase a Late Season CSA share (if you haven’t already) or make a donation at thegoodacre.org/donate.

Federal government negotiations aside, October is still National Farm to School Month. And that observance is of special significance to The Good Acre, because K–12 school nutrition contracts were our first wholesale market, and helped lay the foundation for what we are today: Minnesota’s largest nonprofit food hub.

Because of those early relationships, we now connect more than 150 local farmers — family farms, immigrant farmers, farmers of color — to schools, hunger relief organizations, retailers and institutions throughout our region. This is farm-to-school in action: fresh, healthy, locally grown food nourishing kids and communities while creating stable markets for farmers.

During turbulent times like these, we’re doubling down on what works by building resilient partnerships, strengthening our food system and making sure local food is the easy choice for schools, families and communities. 

Theresa McCormick is the executive director of The Good Acre, Minnesota’s largest nonprofit food hub, based in Falcon Heights.

Photo cutline: Late season CSA share. Photo from The Good Acre.