Produce Distribution

Donating Food

Growers who donate fresh fruits and vegetables to a food pantry can help address food nutritional insecurity in the community. Locate the nearest food pantries by zip code. Make sure to take measures to minimize contamination during growing, harvesting, and storage and protect produce from contamination during transportation from the farm to the food pantry.

Resources

Keeping your produce safe for donation.
Food Pantry Produce Donations – Grower Information, Iowa State University Extension
Good Samaritan Act Provides Liability Protection for Food Donations, USDA

wide variety of fresh produce at a local farmers market

Selling Food

Fresh produce can be sold directly to consumers, for example, through a CSA, farm stand, farmers’ market, online marketing, or through wholesale. Use the resources linked below to sell produce safely to customers.

Resources

Illinois Farmers Market Food Safety Guide.
Make food safety a priority at your farmers market booth.
Make food safety a priority for your CSA
Preparing for wholesale in Illinois.