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OREM — Earlier this year, Wilkerson Farm made a significant change to its business model, a decision the farm's operator can only describe as "rewarding."
"The hard work is worth it because of where it's going," Rachel Wilkerson said.
The 30-acre farm at 710 W. 2000 South in Orem has been around since 2010. This season, they decided to grow exclusively for local food pantries.
"We are growing melons, onions, peaches, potatoes and pumpkins as well," she said. "And this year we are on track for growing 180,000 pounds of produce."
The fresh fruits and vegetables go to Tabitha's Way and Utah Community Action, both in Utah County.
A fruit and vegetable farm in Orem is now exclusively growing for local food pantries, hoping to help families in need as prices go up at grocery store.
— Ashley Moser (@AshleyMoser) October 14, 2022
We'll be live after the break to show how a ticket to their fall fest can help with their mission @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/OuEj3KIDeX
"So we sell them a portion of the crop at a wholesale rate and then they get a certain amount of pounds," Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson said the pantries are seeing more requests from families in need as inflation rates continue to rise.
"They are getting more families and less help, less donations, less resources to work with," she said. "The grocery stores are tightening down on how much they order, so they are actually not getting as much."
Proceeds from the farm's Fall Fest, which runs all day Monday-Saturday until Nov. 5, are also going directly to the pantries.
"We let that part raise the money so we can actually farm and do what we love, which is help others," Wilkerson said.
