Bigger and better: Food Bank reopens Farm Stand

FORT BRAGG >> After a short hiatus that saw it move into a larger, more accommodating building just across the street, the Fort Bragg Food Bank’s Community Farm Stand is now back up and running!

The Food Bank receives local produce donations year-round from several local farms and home gardens. In 2020, the farm stand received 60,142 pounds of fresh fruits and veggies from local grocers, farmers and even local, home gardeners.

“‘Give what you can, take what you need’ is our motto here at the food bank,” said Executive Director Amanda Friscia, who added that the COVID-19 pandemic has created “some major challenges” in safely distributing food to the coastal community.

“Before COVID-19, the Fort Bragg Food Bank had a ‘choice pantry,’ where our clients could choose the items they could use. Now we are operating with a curbside model that offers pre-made bags,” Friscia said. “Unfortunately, this is not the most ideal for our clients, as it no longer offers the choice option.”

With the farm stand back up and running, the Food Bank is able once again “to bring back a little bit of that choice option,” she said.

Unlike the other programs at the Food Bank, the farm stand is open to all community members to contribute to, as well as benefit from.

“This is truly a highlight at our Food Bank,” Friscia said. “Not only do the vibrant colors of fresh produce bring joy to everyone’s day, but having the option to choose the produce you can use is a major benefit.”

Unfortunately, fresh produce does not have a long shelf life, so having the farm stand up and running helps the employees and volunteers at the Fort Bragg Food Bank distribute produce before the expiration date.

At the farm stand, dietary staples like apples, potatoes, carrots and onions are almost always available. As the coast move into spring, more fruits and vegetables will start to make an appearance.

Friscia said the Food Bank would like to send “a big thank you to all of our community that help make the farm stand such a valuable resource.”

Some of the local, commercial donors include Harvest Market, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fortunate Farms, Chico Gleaners and Mendocino Coast Produce.

Visit the Food Bank’s Community Farm Stand Monday through Friday between noon and 3 p.m., across the street from the Food Bank’s main warehouse at 910 N. Franklin St. in Fort Bragg.

For more information, or to volunteer with the Fort Bragg Food Bank, visit fortbraggfoodbank.org.

PHOTOS BY ROBIN EPLEY — ADVOCATE-NEWS Fort Bragg Food Bank Director, Amanda Friscia, and Angela Dominguez, office manager, help to unload produce at the new location for the Food Bank’s Farm Stand — just across N. Franklin Street from the Food Bank’s warehouse.

Executive Director Amanda Friscia, left, and Operations Manager Lisi Martinez sort through produce at the Food Bank’s new Farm Stand, which recently reopened in a new and larger location on N. Franklin Street in Fort Bragg.