(Atlantic) – Grow Another Row, a program started last year to encourage, support, and network local growers for food donation, is back in 2021 with plans to expand! Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says grow Another Row Cass County is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food. Grow Another Row Cass County invites local farmers and gardeners to plant a few more rows of produce to share again this year.

Hoegh said expansion started with filling a dedicated coordinator role. This temporary position is made possible through AmeriCorps funding.

2021 Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith.

New Grow Another Row Coordinator, Claire Smith, said “I am extremely excited to get started and I love the mission of this program.” Smith is currently a student at Northwest Missouri State University where she is majoring in agronomy with an emphasis in horticulture and a minor in adapted & recreational gardening. She said she has always loved gardening and has her own home garden where she grows a variety of flowers and vegetables such as petunias, zinnias, roses, marigolds, tomatoes, peppers, and more!

In high school, Claire was active in FFA and 4-H and showed in the Iowa State Fair FFA Floriculture show for four years.
All growers—large and small—are invited to share food with others as part of Grow Another Row. According to Brigham Hoegh, “Even just a few tomato plants can end up producing a lot more than a household can consume, so we encourage all growers to join us.” Sign up for the Grow Another Row newsletter by emailing Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith at claires2@iastate.edu or visiting https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/content/grow-another-row-cass-county.

Not sure what to grow to share with others? According to ISU Extension, the 13 best produce donations are: tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beans. The Grow Another Row leadership team requests additional potatoes, carrots, melons, and green beans in 2021 because these items were in highest demand last year. Grow Another Row Cass County 2021 donation sites are being
finalized and will be publicized at a later date, but Cass County food pantries are sure to be included in the line-up.

• Cass County Food Pantry Information:
  Anita Food Pantry:
  Phone: (712) 762-3645
  Address: 208 Chestnut St, Anita, IA 50020
  Hours: 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9:00am – 11:00am
  Produce donations: Tracey Lett (712)249-4996
  Monetary donations: mail checks to “Anita Food Pantry” (PO Box
  96, Anita, IA 50020)
• Atlantic Food Pantry:
  Address: 19 W. 4th St., Atlantic, IA 50022
  Hours: Thurs., drive-through 1:00pm – 2:00pm (or until line
  ends)
  Produce Donations: Pre-bagged produce requested. Contact:
  (712)243-1820
  Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Atlantic Food Pantry” (19 W
  4th Street. Atlantic, IA 50022)
• Cumberland Care & Share Pantry:
  Phone: (712) 774-5818
  Address: 317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843
  Hours: 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 4:00pm- 5:30pm
  Produce Donations: contact (712) 774-5818
  Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Cumberland Care & Share”
  (317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843)
• Lord’s Cupboard of Griswold
  Phone: (712) 778-4178
  Address: 100 Cass St., Griswold, IA 51535

For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets, and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass
County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood. Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty (https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/). Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information.