Feeding New Jersey Together!
In September, the Greater Princeton Branch of AYLUS (GPA) volunteers at America’s Grow A Row in New Jersey. America’s Grow-a-Row’s mission is to positively impact as many lives as possible through a volunteer effort of planting, picking, rescuing, and delivering free fresh produce.
At America’s Grow-a-Row we:
Provide fresh, healthy produce to those in need
Educate people of all generations about hunger and ways to help
Introduce our youth to farming and healthy eating
Cultivate in tomorrow’s leaders the habit of giving back
Contribute to the sustainability of agriculture
What We Do…
Planting & Harvesting
We GROW, GLEAN & GIVE® away free fresh produce by organizing groups to harvest from our own farms and our partner farms. At each visit we provide a short presentation about hunger issues and healthy eating.
Free Farm Market® Program
Throughout the season (mid-July through October) we deliver produce every other week to food desert areas, areas where people lack access to healthy, fresh, affordable produce, in Newark, Jersey City, East Orange, Camden, Morristown, and eastern Pennsylvania to set up a Free Farm Market®. By partnering with organizations in each of these areas, we can connect with residents in need of produce and thus help address issues of diabetes, obesity, and other health concerns that are often associated with food desert areas and financial hardship.
Grow-a-Row Kids Farm Days
We collaborate with our Free Farm Market® partners to bus children from the communities we serve to our farm during the summer months for Grow-a-Row Kids Farm Days. The children spend a day learning about nutrition, healthy eating, and agriculture; harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables to take home to their families and neighbors; and taking part in outdoor games and activities. For more information, email tristan@americasgrowarow.org. A basic background check for volunteers will be required.
Off the Field Gleaning
Every day, our volunteers rescue “not quite retail perfect” produce from ShopRite stores in Clinton, Flemington, Washington, and Chester to deliver it to local food pantries in New Jersey. Email jacqui@americasgrowarow.org to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Grow-a-Row Education
Our virtual and onsite curriculum includes lessons on healthy eating, hunger awareness, and farming. In addition to our traditional experience-based healthy eating curriculum for children, America’s Grow-a-Row also offers culinary education that emphasizes budget-friendly healthy meals for families struggling to make ends meet and for people with diet-related health issues. For more information, please contact shauna@americasgrowarow.org.
The fields are bursting with produce and we need your help! Volunteers of all ages are welcome (children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult).
GPA members joined adult volunteers on the farm for a wonderful harvest! The Community Food Bank of New Jersey picked up and distributed the produce.
GPA Volunteers (9/1, 2 hrs): Amy Chua, Max Chua, Yun Bai
