Why Fresh Food Matters
“No fresh produce please.”
Over Memorial Day weekend, I came across these signs at a local church I was visiting.
And honestly, that one sentence explains a lot about why The Store exists.
Not because people don’t care.
Because many systems were never built to handle fresh food well.Not every pantry has the staffing, refrigeration, or capacity to safely handle fresh food — and many are doing incredible work with limited resources every single day.
But if you are to believe the signs these onions and potatoes that someone snuck in to the food collection bin don't stand a chance!
Fresh food shouldn’t be complicated to distribute or difficult to access.
Families deserve more than shelf-stable survival. They deserve fresh, healthy food offered with dignity and consistency.
That’s part of what we’re trying to build at The Store: a model where fresh food is expected, choice is protected, and neighbors are treated with the dignity every family deserves.
A simple sign reading "No fresh produce please" became a powerful reminder of why The Store exists. Collen reflects on the barriers many food pantries face and why The Store is committed to providing fresh, healthy food with dignity, choice, and consistency for every family.
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