How it Works

Fresh Producers, an innovative not-for-profit enterprise, organizes fresh produce deliveries to a variety of distribution sites. The produce is locally grown and environmentally friendly to the greatest degree possible. Fresh Producers develops marketing materials and supports the training and management of volunteers at the sites to conduct sales and deliveries. We administer ordering and accounting and support health and nutrition education as part of the on-site program.

Additionally, we engage students ages 6-17 in eating better and developing skills for success by offering them the opportunity to serve as volunteer sales reps for fresh produce. Regular rewards such as gift cards toward items such as books and sports equipment, tickets to games and cultural events, keep them involved throughout their school “careers.”

Older students can move into management positions within the program as participants earn Fresh Producer Participation Points from sales, service hours in community gardens and farmers’ markets, delivery to the elderly and disabled, as well as from managerial time. As the program expands, students can develop new Fresh Producer products and a catalogue of Fresh Producer Approved products could be implemented.

Net revenues will be deposited into a FP Trust Fund for all participants. Other manufacturers and retail outlets can be invited to tithe a percentage of revenues from sales of produce and other healthful products to the Trust.

The Fresh Producer Trust provides scholarship funds for further education and career training. Participants graduating from high school will be eligible to apply, the amount of support to be determined by cumulative Participation Points as well as recommendations. Grants for health initiatives supporting the well-being of children and youth may also be made at the discretion of the Trust Directors.

As our youth learn the meaning of being a producer (the ability to “bring an idea into being”), they will become a proactive market force unto themselves, and learn, literally, that “it pays to stay in school.”