North Shore food access farm expanding into Wenham

When most people think of a food pantry or a food drive, their minds jump to canned goods, grains, and other things that don’t really go bad. 

They might not think of fresh produce. In fact, some say you shouldn’t bother donating fresh produce to food banks and pantries.

That’s where Three Sisters comes in.

The food access farm is based in Ipswich, and their work spreads across the North Shore. Their mission is to provide access to fresh produce to “neighbors facing food insecurity,” according to their website. Three Sisters produce reaches over 18 towns and communities in Essex County, their statement said. Over 70 percent of the produce they grow reaches low-income and food insecure neighbors. But Executive Director Liz Green said lately, that’s been a hard task.

“We’re seeing increased need with the food banks and pantries we supply, and with the folks who show up needing food,” Green said. “It’s very heartbreaking to have to turn people away.”

Around 34 percent of Massachusetts households faced food insecurity in 2023, according to a Greater Boston Food Bank study. According to Massachusetts-based charity Project Bread, food insecurity in the Commonwealth is reaching a level not seen since the pandemic.

To Green, the increased need for fresh food is more prevalent than ever. It’s why Three Sisters is expanding. They’ve entered into a 5-year land agreement with the town of Wenham, which will provide them with a large new swath of designated farmland to grow on.

“This additional farmland will help us grow more food for people who need it. We are so grateful to the town of Wenham for their farmland stewardship and their willingness to work with us,” Green said in a statement on Monday.

Three Sisters will begin planting in Wenham in spring of 2025. Green says it can’t come soon enough. She explained that food pantry visitors don’t often have access to fresh produce, and the produce they do get is often filled with preservatives and chemicals.

“We just feel like folks who want to make ends meet deserve the freshest and best produce,” she said, “If we care about people eating well, we think they deserve to eat tasty things.”

With this new land, Green says they can do a whole lot more. But it’s not just about the land, Green said. It is about the local communities getting involved.

“A lot of our neighbors are struggling,” she said. “Part of the solution is just showing up. There’s room for everybody who cares about this to jump in and make a difference. It’s all hands on deck with food insecurity. It’s overwhelming and it’s challenging, but people can really make a difference.”