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About New Entry Sustainable Farming Project

Location:

45 Merrimack Street, 5th Floor, Lowell, MA 01852, US

Mission Statement

The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project’s (New Entry) mission is to improve our local and regional food systems by training the next generation of farmers to produce food that is sustainable, nutritious, and culturally-appropriate and making this food accessible to individuals regardless of age, mobility, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. In doing this work, we provide critical training, career development, and economic opportunity to new farmers. World PEAS Food Hub expands on New Entry's mission by building long term economic self-reliance and food security among farmers in eastern Massachusetts and their communities, and to increase access of healthy and culturally appropriate foods in underserved areas through production of locally-grown foods.

Description

World PEAS began as a cooperative in 2005, with the goal to help beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers connect with local consumers seeking fresh produce. Most participating farmers do not have a large enough volume, means of transportation, time, or English language skills to effectively access viable, living wage markets on their own. By forming a cooperative, small, beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers are able to combine their products to more efficiently and effectively connect with local consumers. In June 2013, World PEAS opened a physical warehouse space, transforming the program from a cooperative into a true Food Hub. World PEAS aggregates and distributes vegetables grown by over 30 beginning, immigrant and refugee farmers who use organic growing practices. Additional fruits and vegetables are sourced from farms within 100 miles of Boston that use certified organic practices, as well as farms that use integrated pest management. This produce serves over 300 World PEAS CSA shareholders and over 2,000 low-income individuals though local shelters and food banks, schools and institutions, and SNAP-eligible Lowell residents.