CCM is pleased to be funding the First Harvest Project, allowing Channel One to purchase nutritious produce for those in need.
As part of Carlson Capital Management’s commitment to the broader community, we are participating in the First Harvest Project. The First Harvest Project was established with the goals of:
- Facilitating partnerships with local/regional food banks that provide healthy food to those in need,
- ensuring access to food that is nutritional, local and produced by farmers who are using sustainable practices, and
- supporting the sustainable practices of farmers who in turn protect the environment, enhance public health and serve local communities.
CCM recently made a gift of $20,000 to the Channel One Regional Food Bank that allows the organization to purchase nutritious fresh food produced by a local farm. Channel One serves thirteen counties in Southeastern Minnesota, distributing food through a network of member agencies, including food shelves, soup kitchens, group homes and shelters. Last year, Channel One distributed more than nine million pounds of food in order to help provide nutritious food to those in need.
Through this project, Channel One partnered with SEEDS Farm to purchase fresh produce to provide to its clients. SEEDS Farm committed to planning and planting crops specifically to meet the needs of Channel One. The clients of Channel One, in turn, are getting the “First Harvest” of produce, not seconds or over-supply, but produce that is determined in advance to best meet their needs. This provides the clients of Channel One with fresh, flavorful, nutrient dense, local, pesticide-free and environmentally-friendly produce.
SEEDS Farm is also supported with the added volume produced for Channel One and a strengthening of their sustainable model. The Farm is co-participating in the charitable donation to feed clients of the food shelf by providing their fresh produce at a discounted rate.
“There are numerous reasons why we find this opportunity for giving particularly rewarding, and one is the way in which it ties to the firm’s charitable prioritization of helping serve the basic needs of members of our society (e.g. food, shelter, clothing). And while impacting basic needs, it also supports sustainable farming and protecting the environment.”
-Greg Carlson, CEO and Co-Founder
