Aerial shot of 2 semi trucks

Distribution and Food Assistance

Before COVID-19, Farmer Frog serviced over 25,000 families in the Puget Sound. Since the beginning of COVID-19 in March of 2020, Farmer Frog has expanded its distribution work to support the community amidst the severe pandemic, with a focus on people who were unable to access existing government sanctioned food security systems. Many communities, including Tribes and BIPOC organizations in urban and isolated regions, individuals with transportation and/or mobility issues, elderly and single parent households, refugees and immigrants, and others lacking access to these systems.

To address this, Farmer Frog quickly established an Emergency Response Hunger Relief Distribution Operation with many of our local partners at the Food Logistics Operations Offices and Resources (FLOOR) distribution center located at Farmer Frog’s original headquarters – Paradise Farm in Woodinville, Washington. The FLOOR has since moved, and now operates at 12129 Treosti Road in Snohomish, Washington, near BearGrass Farm.

Our team distributes food to folx in need that is sourced from recovered, donated, and purchased foods, box programs such as the now expired USDA Farmers to Families and the WSDA WeFeedWA program, surplus inventories at other distribution centers, and any other available food streams. The distribution center has united our many partners in providing food assistance and as a community. Together with our sister nonprofit, the Northwest and National Tribal Emergency Council (NTEMC), and with The Silent TaskForce, we have formed and are leading the regional, multi-state collaboration of organizations and agencies – The Fresh Food Coalition. Together, we are answering the White House’s call to end hunger by 2030.

Though many folx come to our distribution centers to pick up food, we also coordinate direct shipment of goods by air, land, and sea. Our strong networking capabilities and powerful volunteer base with thousands intermittently supporting us and over 1,000 regular volunteers allow us to physically bridge the racial gap.

In partnership with NTEMC, we have shipped half a million pounds of food and personal protective equipment to Tribes and Native Villages in Alaska, via maritime transport.

In Washington state, we have coordinated distribution via planes in partnership with the Disaster Air Relief Team (DART) to Tribes in remote locations. We have also provided direct transport via semi truck or box truck. We work to eliminate inefficiencies in the system and provide full service distribution.

As the “wholesaler of the wholesaler” we are proud to provide distribution services that are broad, encompassing, swift, efficient, and equitable. When we deliver, we are known to go the distance – whether it’s north at Ferndale and Point Roberts, to remote westerly locations such as the Makah Nation, or right behind the fire lines to the Colville Tribe, which was then directly adjacent to the active wildfires. We serve anybody and everybody. If you are in need of support, please reach out to us via our Contact Us page.

Our recipients include Faith Based Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Grassroots groups, Community Members (via the Truck-to-Trunk model), Food Banks/Food Pantries, Neighborhood Groups, Veteran Communities, Low Income Housing, Corporate, Elderly Communities, School, Government Agencies, and Meal Programs. Our approach to distributing food is to go where we are wanted and needed, connect with the recipient’s needs on a heart-to-heart level (whether a government agency or a community based organization), and ensure that we are providing true hunger relief services that meet the needs of the community.

Original Pandemic Team

Often we say our team is reflective of who we serve as we ourselves have faced and continue to face food insecurity, with lived experiences that guide us in our distribution and allow us to see the gaps that exist and how we can overcome the barriers in the Institution historically under-represented communities regularly face. If one of our partners needs support, we will be there.

Fresh Food Economy A Regional Initiative

A circular, regional, community-based economy focusing on cross-sector collaboration that supports food sovereignty, social justice and equity in our food systems, fosters innovations, provides upward economic mobility for the historically underrepresented communities in Washington and surrounding states, and leads to lasting resiliency in preparation for the now unfolding Climate Crisis.

Our Second Annual Universal FoodCare Conference was held on May 29, 2024.

Linking Arms

The National Tribal Emergency Management Council, The Silent Task Force, and Farmer Frog are the leading members of The Fresh Food Coalition. This BIPOC lead, community based effort is focusing on creating a robust and duplicable regional economy, addressing equitable access to:

  • fresh, healthy, culturally relevant food;
  • sustainable, environmentally responsible energy;
  • sustainable, environmentally responsible materials;
  • respectful, community responsible education;
  • livable-wage, dignifying jobs;
  • science and empathy based, culturally inclusive healthcare;
  • efficient and sustainable transportation;
  • just and fair distribution of resources;
  • coexistence based ecosystem and wildlife supportive practices; and more.

Farmers Markets Sell Fresh Produce

When Farmer Frog sets up at a Farmers Market, we sell fresh produce that our team grows together at our farm sites and school gardens. Our booth is filled with fun and activities. Some children are cashiers, while others who can identify many vegetable varieties talk with customers about the produce and how to prepare and cook the crops. The money we generate at the markets goes back to our programs.

Volunteers are always needed to harvest, set up, market and sell produce, and break down. Occasionally we also need volunteers for children’s activities. New volunteers: Please contact us if you are interested in helping with farmers markets.