Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit Connect Farmers and Consumers to Areas Challenged by Food Insecurity

Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit serve as lending partners to many farmers and rural residents in eastern North Carolina. This summer and fall, they have dedicated several efforts to connecting local farmers and consumers to areas of food insecurity throughout eastern North Carolina.

The Produce Box & Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Boxes

Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit announce a collaboration with The Produce Box, a fresh produce subscription-based service. Together, Cape Fear Farm Credit, AgCarolina Farm Credit and The Produce Box have created the Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Box. This box is available for purchase and includes local products grown by local farmers who are each considered young, beginning or small farmers. For each box purchased, Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit will match their support and purchase an additional local produce box to distribute within areas challenged by food insecurity throughout eastern North Carolina. Locally grown products in the Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Box include: sweetpotatoes, pumpkins, pork sausage, zucchini, yellow squash, goat cheese, peanuts and more. Each farmer’s story will be shared upon purchase, connecting the local farmer to the consumer.

Young, beginning and small farmers featured within this collaboration include Stephanie Carter from Ithica Acres - a local goat creamery in Hoke County, Ron Simmons from MasterBlend Family Farm - a local pork sausage producer in Duplin County, Leah Williams from Williams’ Family Produce - a produce producer in Sampson County, Krystle Owens from Delta Dawn Farms - a local beef and pumpkin producer in Duplin County, and Jennifer Daniels from H&D Farms, Inc. -  a local sweetpotato producer in Sampson County.

“It’s important that as consumers we understand where our food comes from and one way of understanding is by learning the stories of our North Carolina farmers,” said Skipper Jones, SVP Marketing & Communications at AgCarolina Farm Credit. “Our local North Carolina farmers care about their products they are distributing to feed others, and as consumers, we need to support them. We look forward to sharing the stories of the individuals who grow our food; they are innovative and passionate about providing a safe and affordable food supply for generations to come,” adds Janna Bass, SVP Marketing & Financial Services at Cape Fear Farm Credit. 

Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit are passionate about connecting consumers to the farmers that take pride in growing their food. In addition to supporting local farmers, together through this partnership and donation, individuals can combat food insecurity throughout eastern North Carolina. Employees from both Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit will volunteer to support the distribution of the matched donation.

How to Purchase Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Boxes

Boxes will be available for purchase September 9th and September 16th, 2022 through The Produce Box website. All new members will receive $15 off their box order when they use the promo code CFFC15. To sign up and become a member of The Produce Box, click here. For additional project details, click here.

Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit Partnership with Ripe Revival Outcome

Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit concluded their partnership with Ripe Revival to connect farmers and consumers to areas challenged with food insecurity. AgCarolina Farm Credit and Cape Fear Farm Credit matched each purchased chef series box by donating a box to areas of food insecurity through Ripe Revival’s mobile food market throughout Eastern North Carolina. Ripe Revival sold a total of 39 meal kits, equating to $5,445 in total sales, which was matched by Cape Fear Farm Credit and AgCarolina Farm Credit jointly. 

About Cape Fear Farm Credit

Cape Fear Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its member-borrowers. It provides loans for land, equipment, livestock and production as well as rural home mortgages and rural living. Cape Fear Farm Credit has branches serving Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland counties. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America. To locate a branch near you, visit www.capefearfc.com or call (800) 368-5819.

About AgCarolina Farm Credit

AgCarolina Farm Credit is a farmer-owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh. They are the leading provider of credit to farmers in central and eastern North Carolina. Loans are made to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock, and equipment, as well as other purposes. Credit life insurance, appraisal services, and leasing are also available through AgCarolina Farm Credit. Branch locations are in Ahoskie, Elizabeth City, Greenville, Halifax, La Grange, Louisburg, New Bern, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Swan Quarter, and Williamston. To locate a branch near you, visit www.agcarolina.com or call (800) 951-3276.