On Sept. 1, Rising Tide Co-op in Damariscotta awarded Veggies to Table a $500 sponsorship as part of the Co-op’s Loving Local Meals program.

Loving Local Meals began in April 2020 when Rising Tide recognized that Lincoln County residents, and in turn food pantries, began to see a greater need for fresh prepared food in our shared community. Meals are made by staff and volunteers with a combination of local fresh farm ingredients purchased with financial contributions from Co-op and community members and with some donated products. Over the last six months, $15,000 has been re-invested in local farms helping to strengthen the food system in Maine. As of last week, over 10,500 meals had been distributed to six food pantries in Lincoln County.

Newcastle’s Veggies to Table is a grow-to-donate farm. In their first two seasons they have grown and donated over 15,000 pounds of organic produce to more than 30 local organizations and families, including the Loving Local Meals program. The generous $500 Sponsorship was given to support the organization’s mission to grow top-quality organic produce and flowers to donate to local people experiencing food insecurity, create community through volunteerism, and provide education around healthy food.

Rising Tide General Manager Heather Burt remarked, “During COVID-19, it has been so important to support our entire community -- members, employees, local farms, and community based organizations. It has been amazing to see Veggies to Table not only run a farm but create an opportunity for volunteers to safely work together, six feet apart. They exemplify how collectively we are so much more than the sum of our parts. Veggies to Table gives so much to us and we are very happy to support them.”

Veggies to Table Founder Erica Berman replied, “This is exactly the work we want to be doing. Growing organic produce and, getting that produce to a place like the co-op where it is lovingly prepared for community members experiencing hunger. Not only does Rising Tide’s program fit right into our mission, it fills a spot we don’t normally fill with our produce by having it made into meals for those in need. It is an honor to collaborate with the Co-op.”

Community members interested in helping prepare, package or deliver Loving Local Meals can contact mealcoordinator@risingtide.coop.

For more information on Veggies to table, to donate, or volunteer you can go to their website: https://veggiestotable.org or email erica@veggiestotable.org

Rising Tide Co-op is a cooperatively-owned natural grocery that has been serving southern Midcoast Maine since 1978 and has a strong commitment to providing our community with the best local, natural and organic foods and products. Everyone is welcome.