(WXYZ) — We’ve been talking about how this shut down is affecting businesses like restaurants. But what about their supply chain?
One non-profit urban farm in Detroit is being hit hard by the pandemic too. But, since we are all in this together, there are ways that you can help.
Jerry Hebron of Oakland Avenue Urban Farm in Detroit said, “We grow a lot of greens.... Brussels sprouts, broccolinis.”
Those greens are growing, but it is not the kind of “green” that Jerry needs to keep the farm going.
Oakland Avenue Urban Farm sells its fruits and vegetables to local restaurants.
The nonprofit farm grows food on 3.5 acres. But with the shutdown, restaurants aren’t buying food, in fact they are doing the opposite.
Chefs are calling Jerry asking her to do something with their supplies before it goes bad.
“Hey can you come and pickup 30 boxes or 10 boxes of perishable food and get that out in the community?”
Besides restaurants, Jerry sells Her produce at farmers markets.
“We’ve had people calling us, wanting to know if we will be able to offer curbside delivery, so there are many options that we are looking at and yes farmers markets are going to look really different this year.”
They haven’t sold any food since February and already feeling the pinch
“Usually in the summer time we’re able to hire additional four, five, six people I don’t know if we will be able to do that this year.”
But this pandemic won’t stop the organization from helping the community.
“People are going to be challenged financially so our goal is, yes we run a farmers market and yes we source our food for sale, but we are going to feed people that need it.”
Oakland Avenue Urban Farm is always looking for help, to volunteer go to:http://www.oaklandurbanfarm.org
To donate, go to: www.northendcdc.org
It is their parent organization’s website and there is a donate button. The farm also accepts Cashapp or Paypal at jannhebron@gmail.com
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