Food Bank Farm

The five-acre Food Bank Farm consists of a propagation house, four high tunnels (large greenhouse structures), a demonstration garden, bee hives, fruit trees, and field growing space for annual crops. The farm is made possible thanks to ongoing financial support from Corteva Agriscience.  It is maintained by three full-time employees, seasonal farm interns, and volunteers from the community.

Vegetables are grown year-round using seasonal varieties that perform well in the region. The farm follows best management practices that prioritize produce quality and yield as well as environmental

sustainability. The propagation house enables year-round production of healthy starter plants.  In addition to their use on the farm, extra starter plants are featured in the annual Spring Plant Sale fundraiser and are also donated to local community partners and gardens.

The majority of the produce harvested is distributed through the Food Bank’s Healthy Pantry Center for neighbors seeking food assistance.  The produce has also been incorporated into the Culinary School training program, providing students the opportunity to cook with fresh and unique fruits, vegetables and herbs.  Additionally, the farm produce is sold on-site in the FBD Discover Café throughout the year and available online through the purchase of weekly FBD Farm Produce Bundles.

Thanks to a grant from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service EQIP program, the FBD Farm was able to purchase and construct a fourth 96’ by 30’ high tunnel in Spring of 2023.  The new structure extends the growing season for crops on the farm and therefore is expected to increase total produce grown on the farm.

During the 2022-23 fiscal year the farm continued to make progress towards the goal of fully utilizing all available spaces on the property for growing food crops.  The outdoor spaces will continue to be cover-cropped and amended with compost annually to further improve the site’s capabilities to grow healthy crops.  Progress was also made with increasing wildlife habitat on the farm with the addition of new wildflower swale garden thanks to a partnership with Mt Cuba Center.

A partnership was established with FBD Farm and the University of Delaware Master Gardeners program to host UDMG community workshops.  The first workshop took place in June 2023, and more events will be planned in the future to reach a program goal of offering 2-3 public workshops per year.

A plan is underway to build an addition to the farm pole barn as well as retrofit a separate space of the barn in 2023-24.  The addition will include a conditioned produce washing and packing room and a small office for farm staff.  A spare section of the barn will be converted into conditioned breakroom area for staff and volunteers and will include the addition of a second barn restroom.

For more information:

Kyle Brolis
Agricultural Programs Director
222 Lake Drive
Newark, DE 19702
kbrolis@fbd.org

The farm is located on the far side of the Food Bank. Parking is available in the front of the building.