About CCFP

The Charlottesville Community Food Project began with a couple observations: Charlottesville’s Emergency Food Bank is great. Also, it doesn’t have the capability to provide fresh produce. Then came the thought: Given all the diet related health issues (and all the economic issues raised by those health issues) and given the tastiness and pleasures of fresh food, wouldn’t it be great if everyone who wanted to feed themselves and their families fresh vegetables were able to? And finally: What if there were a way to support local agriculture (and all its benefits) at the same time?

The CCFP is a 501c3 non-profit organization made up of volunteers dedicated to putting fresh, local food within reach of all the members of our community. We hope to support not only the well being of the recipients of the food, but also the health of our local food system, and thereby the health of our environment, culture and community.

Since the beginning of June, 2008, the CCFP has been connecting low-income families with fresh, local produce. We have plugged into the CSA system so that after we take calls (during our call-in period on Wednesdays and Saturdays) from our community members in need, they can simply pick up a share of produce later that day, like any CSA share-holder.

These community shares are made possible through monetary donations and donations of CSA pick-ups (usually for a week or two, when the CSA shareholder is out of town, or is otherwise not going to be using their share.)

We distributed over 260 shares (each a week’s worth of vegetables,) over the course of the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. In between growing seasons, CCFP works to host events and raise funds for the next year. We also hope in the future to be able to provide some form of late Fall and Winter produce to our community.

Where is the food coming from?

At CCFP, we recognize that what we get for our money is only half the equation; what our money supports is also important. Luckily for us, in the process of getting the freshest, healthiest food for our community, we can also support the most environmentally, economically and socially beneficial practices!

In 2008, our Wednesday pickups were from Roundabout Farm, located in Keswick, and our Saturday ones were from Ploughshare Community Farm, which is located in Louisa.  In 2009 our pickups came from Ploughshare Community Farm, with a few extra shares provided by the UVA community garden.

Both Megan, from Roundabout, and Tony, from Ploughshare, have been wonderful and supportive. Our thanks go out to them and to all of Cville’s local farmers; our community benefits greatly from the tasty and healthy products of their hard work.

Looking ahead:

Next year we hope to offer reduced cost CSA shares to low income families. We will still do the weekly call-ins, but we want to provide an option for people who would like to pick up every week, but cannot afford the regular CSA price. Your donation could help put a steady supply of fresh vegetables within reach.