NY SED James Barber harvested a truckload of fresh produce from his family farm to help the Feds Feed Families campaign.
When Mother Nature blessed New York State Executive Director James Barber’s family farm with a bumper sweet corn crop this year, he did what the Barber Family has done for many years; he donated thousands of pounds of it to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
Barber, his wife Cindy and family members operate the Barber Family Farm in the Schoharie Valley of Eastern New York. Once known as the “Breadbasket of America”, George Washington relied on the revolutionary era farmers of this valley to feed his troops at Valley Forge.
The Barber Family Farm produces a variety of quality vegetables, which they retail at their farm stand and several farmers markets in the area. Sharing their bounty with those in need is part of their farming philosophy that goes back many years. When Jim’s father, Roger Barber, was NY FSA State Committee Chair, the Barber’s were participants in the USDA’s “Summer of Gleaning” and donated tons of fresh vegetables to the regional food bank.
“The Barber Family Farm has set a standard for donations of farm fresh produce to the Regional Food Bank,” said Regional Food Bank Director Mark Quandt. “The Barber’s donate almost 50,000 pounds of produce a year, which means thousands of people in need have the benefit of good nutritious food because of the their generosity. We love the great working relationship we have developed with the Barber family.”
Quandt added that the Barbers have donated more than 700,000 pounds of fresh produce over a span of more than 15 years, making them one of the largest farm donors to the food bank. The Food Bank of Northeastern New York serves the eastern third of the state and more than 1,000 food pantries, shelters and emergency food providers.
Jim Barber continues his family’s tradition of helping those in need by encouraging New York’s FSA employees to participate in the “Feds Feed Families” and the “People’s Garden” initiatives as well as allowing FSA staff to assist with food bank activities that help feed the needy in our community.
