The Chattanooga Area Food Bank (CAFB) received a $10,000 grant from CSX and The Conservation Fund to purchase two manual foot pedal clipping machines (produce baggers) and the associated supplies allowing for efficient bagging of bulk produce into smaller, easier to handle sizes. The new produce baggers will aid in CAFB’s mission to eliminate hunger and promote better nutrition by increasing access to produce for clients and agencies.
“The produce baggers will be more convenient for our agencies and clients. A lot of agencies don’t have the capacity to store produce in bulk, but they can manage smaller bags,” said Rodney McCullough, CAFB Reclamations Manager.
The produce baggers will also help individual clients. For example, a senior who receives food might have a hard time transporting, cooking, and consuming a 50 pound bag of potatoes before it spoils, but the same senior could probably finish a smaller, 10 pound bag without any potatoes going to waste.
Lori Bell, CAFB Food Sourcing and Inventory Manager described additional benefits of the produce baggers. “We are very thankful to CSX and The Conservation Fund for these produce baggers. Bulk produce is less expensive so the baggers allow us to save money for other necessary food items by purchasing in bulk quantities. We can then engage our community with volunteers helping to re-bag the items into manageable sizes for our clients and agencies.”