Kearsarge Food Hub

TO CULTIVATE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, GROW ENGAGED LEARNERS, AND NOURISH THE COMMUNITY

1. SWEET BEET MARKET IS A LOCAL FOOD MARKETPLACE COMMITTED TOCONSCIENTIOUS SOURCING, SUPPORTING LOCAL AND REGIONAL PRODUCERS, AND PROVIDING HEALTHY FOODS TO THE COMMUNITY. WE PRIORITIZE SOURCING LOCAL, SEASONAL, AND HANDMADE GOODS FROM GROWERS AND PRODUCERS WITHIN OUR HYPER-LOCAL NETWORK (50 MILES). AS AN ENTERPRISE ARM OF OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE MARKET IS ONE ASPECT OF A DIVERSE REVENUE MATRIX THAT FUNDS OUR MISSION-BASED WORK IN FOOD ACCESS AND SECURITY, FARM-BASED EDUCATION, GROWING NEW FARMERS, AND NURTURING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. IN 2021, WE SOURCED PRODUCTS FROM SEVENTEEN HYPER-LOCAL PRODUCE FARMS AND 90+ OTHER INDEPENDENT LOCAL FARMERS AND PRODUCERS, PLUS THREE DISTRIBUTION-TYPE FOOD HUBS AND A ONE REGIONAL DISTRIBUTOR. MORE THAN $215,000 OF FOOD PRODUCTS WERE PURCHASED FROM LOCAL FARMERS AND FISHERS.

2. FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM: ONE IN NINE NH RESIDENTS IS FOOD INSECURE, MEANING THAT ONE IN NINE NEIGHBORS STRUGGLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. KFH PARTNERS WITH AREA ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTIVATES COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO GET HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO NEED IT BY PROVIDING CONSISTENT DONATIONS OF FRESH, HIGH QUALITY LOCAL FOODS TO AREA FOOD PANTRIES AND GLEANING ORGANIZATIONS YEAR-ROUND. IN 2021, KFH'S FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM DONATED MORE THAN 21,700 POUNDS OF LOCAL PRODUCE THROUGH FOUR FOOD PANTRIES; HELPED FEED 335 FAMILIES AND 860 INDIVIDUALS; OFFERED $3,500 IN DISCOUNTS TO VETERANS; PROCESSED MORE THAN $5,000 IN SNAP DOLLARS; OPENED THE COMMUNITY FREEDGE WHICH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS ANONYMOUS TWENTY-FOUR HOUR ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCAL FOODS FREE OF CHARGE.

3. SWEET BEET FARM IS AN EDUCATIONAL FARM THAT GROWS FLAVORFUL, NUTRIENT-DENSE VEGETABLES FOR MARKET WHILE EXPLORING REGENERATIVE PRACTICES TO NURTURE THE LAND, PURSUING FARM-BASED EDUCATION INITIATIVES TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, AND HELPING TO GROW FARMERS IN NH. ON THE FARM, KFH OFFERS HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES, WITH PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, APPRENTICESHIPS FOR ADULTS, AND SHARED LEARNING NETWORKS FOR FARMERS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. THE FARMING METHODS USED AND TAUGHT SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH LOW-IMPACT TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, ELIMINATING THE USE OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND INPUTS, EMPLOYING ECOLOGICALLY-MINDED APPROACHES, AND REDUCING ON-FARM WASTE. IN 2021, THESE FARM EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACHED CLOSE TO 100 STUDENTS THROUGH ON-FARM EDUCATION, SCHOOL VISITS, AND ZOOM PRESENTATIONS; GREW 13,395 POUNDS OF PRODUCE; INCREASED HIGH-TUNNEL BY 133%; INCREASED FIELD PRODUCTION BY 50%.