The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Maine announced that Good Shepherd Food Bank is receiving an award of $99,999.00 to purchase a broccoli floret machine as part of a growing partnership with Maine food producers and processors.

Harvesting Good, a wholly owned subsidiary of Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, is on a mission is to improve access to nutritious food for all consumers and strengthen regional food systems by creating a mid-scale food processing venture. Rhiannon C. Hampson, the Maine State Director of USDA Rural Development said it is helping them to do just that with this investment.

Broccoli florets are the first of six vegetables Harvesting Good plans to grow, harvest and distribute in cooperation with its partners to benefit the food bank and its beneficiaries.