Three River Farmers Expands Delivery

The Three River Farmers Alliance, which started in the back of a station wagon by delivering to a handful of restaurants has grown to 25 employees and expanded its programs to include a contactless home delivery service. Called Veggie-GO, home delivery operates year-round throughout southern NH, Maine, and northern Mass.

The Farmers' Veggie Box Subscriptions and Workplace Veggie Share's are modeled after other CSA programs launched in February.

The Farmers Alliance says customers can order what they want with no obligations while still receiving special perks.

“We represent producers from Massachusetts and all of northern New England,” said Kate Donald, who co-owns the Alliance with Greg Balog from Heron Pond Farm; Andre Cantelmo, also from Heron Pond Farm; and Josh Jennings, from Meadow’s Mirth Farm.

In addition to supplying local food to households and businesses, Three River Farmers Alliance has built philanthropy into its model.

“We have created a simple, efficient program for providing weekly donations from our generous contributors to purchase excess crops at cost from local farms that we then distribute to local food pantries,” said Donald, who is from Stout Oak Farm.

Three River Farmers Alliance also supplements credits for SNAP-eligible Veggie-GO customers.

“We are guided by a strong belief that local food is for everyone, including the food-insecure,” added Evan Eppler, who joined Three River Farmers Alliance in 2020 as operations director. “We will continue to look for ways to expand our donation program in 2021, especially given the strain caused by the pandemic on so many families.”

In looking ahead, Donald said the group’s leadership is committed to further developing its farmer-owned distribution infrastructure for the local food system.

“Good food by good people–that is what drives Three River Farmers Alliance and its more than 50 producers,” she said.

To learn more about Three River Farmers Alliance, including delivery areas for Veggie-GO, visit threeriverfa.com.

Pictured: from left: farmers and owners of Three River Kate Donald, Greg Balog, Andre Cantelmo and Josh Jennings.