Hello to 2025 Feast Down East Farm-ily,

Last year was quite the impactful year for our small but mighty organization! This beautiful video that was produced by Boot Scrap this past fall truly captivates the transformative work our team cultivates amongst our community of farmers, customers and supporters. I encourage anyone to take a few minutes out of their day to watch to get a true sense on the impact, value and importance of the work that we do at Feast Down East.

Lettuce recap and celebrate in the success of 2024... 

We worked with 57 local farmers, increasing their sales by 5% from 2023 amongst 62 wholesale customers. The Farmers Fighting Hunger program reached 15 different community partners, increasing farmer sales by 10% from 2023. Our Food Hub team hosted 3 farmer workshop days with 15 different workshop sessions, with the Farmer Scholarship program entering it's second year, awarding 18 farmers with scholarships valuing $9,000 to invest in their farm enterprises. After much anticipation and request, the CSA program came back to great excitement for subscribers and farmers and we're happy to report that it is going to continue in 2025!

Our Mobile Market had a record breaking year doing over $71,000 in sales, increasing by 25% from 2023, with the number of total markets hosted increasing by 29% from the previous year. The inaugural Food Rx program comprised of 17% of that, with 85% of Novant patients redeeming their food prescription vouchers. We partnered with BCBS of NC to host 6 mobile market sites across Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Pender and Onslow Counties issuing nearly $4,000 in vouchers to customers.

We leveraged over 1.5 MILLION dollars in grant funds and hosted our first ever oyster roast fundraiser event! While hosting two events at Palate Bottle Shop & Garden, as well as having a number of pint and community give back nights at different breweries and restaurants. Our team sat on panels, presented at conferences, symposiums and partner exhibitions sharing our mission and programs with others throughout the state.

I am so eager to see what 2025 brings us, it'll be hard to beet the success of 2024 but I know it is going to be nothing short of a-maize-ing. We are ever grateful for your ongoing support for our organization as we venture into this new year.

Here's to what is to be a radishing year!

Jordyn Appel-Hughes

Executive Director