WYOMING COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – In a growing partnership aimed at fighting food insecurity, West Virginia University (WVU) Extension and The Farmlink Project recently distributed 200,000 pounds of grapes across five West Virginia counties.
According to WVU Extension, this effort follows a similar initiative in December when WVU Extension’s Family Nutrition Program distributed 436,200 pounds of surplus apples provided for free by The Farmlink Project.
“I think we helped a lot of people,” said Brianna Hawkins, a nutrition outreach instructor with the Family Nutrition Program. “We probably could’ve given out 20,000 more, honestly.”
On March 18, Hawkins set up a distribution site in downtown Pineville near the Wyoming County Courthouse and the local health department.
The Wyoming County Food Pantry helped spread the word, but the sight of pallets overflowing with free grapes quickly drew attention from residents.
“We got rid of them in about six hours,” Hawkins said.
The Farmlink Project, a national nonprofit that redirects surplus produce to communities in need at no cost, delivered the grapes.
Volunteers from the food pantry, local solid waste authority, and Wyoming County Day Report Center assisted with unloading and distribution.
Hawkins also provided storage tips and healthy recipes featuring grapes.
The free fruit was also distributed in Calhoun, Gilmer, McDowell, and Preston counties.
In Wyoming and McDowell counties, where residents are still recovering from severe flooding in February, the donation was especially welcome.
“Whenever Farmlink calls and asks, ‘Would you like some free produce?’ our staff always says ‘yes,’” said Kristin McCartney, Extension specialist and SNAP-Ed coordinator with the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program.
“The partnership with Farmlink has not only been a blessing at a time when communities are struggling, but it also has been a demonstration of the true spirit of neighbors and friends coming together to feed each other.”
McCartney praised the dedication of Family Nutrition Program staff across the state.
“We have passionate people all over the state who are committed to promoting healthy habits in their communities. To them, distributing 40,000 pounds of grapes is just another day at the office,” she said.
Hawkins noted that residents were thrilled to receive the grapes, which one volunteer estimated would cost about $90,000 at a major grocery store.
“There were a lot of jokes about making wine. Some people talked about making jelly and just eating them,” she said.
The WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program’s efforts are supported by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
