+ What do farmers grow?

The short answer is that they a much wider variety than in your local grocery store! Farmers typically grow vegetables that match their culture's cuisine. About half of what farmers grow goes home to feed their families, after all.

In addition to tomatoes, collard greens, and potatoes, you can also find tukugre, long beans, mchicha, and jilo in many fields, and on the farmers' farm stands.

+ Why not just donate food?

Hunger is real. Food donations fill an immediate need, and thousands of families across the state are helped each year by food donations.

When All Farmers thinks about food access, we also think about culture, agency, and autonomy. Without the ability to grow food, refugee and immigrant communities have little autonomy or agency in determining their food access and choices. Many cultural foods are unavailable or may be low quality, making it difficult for families to maintain their food traditions.

Ensuring opportunities for all communities to farm is a cost-effective way to feed families in need, and allows communities greater control over their food supply.

+ What is HIP and why is HIP access important?

The Healthy Incesntives Program (HIP) is a Massachusetts program to reimburse food stamps customers for produce purchased from some local farms, up to monthly limits by household size.

This means that low-income families don't need to choose between fresh fruits and vegetables and their other food needs. It also means that farms serving low-income communities can run viable businesses.

All Farmers maintains HIP status with the state and SNAP retailer status with the USDA to make access to this program possible for the communities and farmers we serve. Please consider becoming a sustaining donor of All Farmers to support this important resource!