The MARC joins innovative collaboration to expand access to fresh, local produce in New Jersey

On a crisp October morning at America’s Grow-a-Row’s farm in Pittstown, New Jersey, leaders from across the region gathered among rows of ripened apples to celebrate a milestone in the movement to end hunger. The event marked more than a harvest—it was the culmination of a powerful collaboration between America’s Grow-a-Row (AGAR), the Mid-Atlantic Regional Cooperative (MARC), state officials, community partners, and all five Feeding America food banks in New Jersey working together to strengthen local food access and get more fresh produce onto the tables of families experiencing food insecurity.

Just five months earlier, this collaboration was only an idea. What began as a pilot project to keep more of AGAR’s locally grown produce within the region has evolved into a coordinated system that moves food quickly, efficiently, and equitably through the charitable food network.

“We all convened here at the farm to talk about how to potentially keep more of our produce in New Jersey this year. Fast forward to today, and that ‘pilot’ concept is now a full-fledged program making an enormous impact every day across the four corners of our state,” recalled AGAR President and Founder Chip Paillex. “It’s nothing short of amazing to see what can be accomplished when a compassionate, committed, and talented group of individuals come together for a common cause.”

That shared cause became the foundation for an innovative regional model—one made possible by the MARC’s unique expertise and capacity. As an initiative of Feeding Pennsylvania and one of eleven Feeding America regional cooperatives, the MARC connects food banks across 13 states from Virginia to Maine with the fresh produce and donated goods they need. Drawing on its logistics infrastructure, cold chain operations, and deep relationships with growers and distributors, the MARC bridges the gap between abundance and access.

For this initiative, the MARC designed and manages a “Just-in-Time” system that ensures produce is harvested, repacked, and delivered to food banks and partner agencies within days. Each week, the MARC picks up bulk produce from AGAR, repacks it over the weekend, and sends trucks out early Monday or Tuesday to deliver directly to agency partners for same-day distribution. The process minimizes waste, protects quality, and ensures the freshest possible food reaches families efficiently.

“At the MARC, we share America’s Grow-a-Row’s belief that everyone deserves access to fresh food for healthy living,” said Beth Hamilton, Executive Director of the MARC. “By working together, we’ve turned that belief into a reality for many food-insecure families who now have better access to the fresh, nutritious food they need to thrive.”

Beyond improving speed and efficiency, the MARC’s model also increases choice and equity. By combining AGAR’s produce with other items available through the MARC’s regional network, such as hard-to-find, imported, and culturally preferred foods, the MARC helps food banks offer a wider variety of healthy, dignified options to their communities.

The scope of the effort is remarkable: this year alone, more than 2.3 million pounds of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables—equivalent to 9 million servings—will stay within the region, reaching neighbors more quickly than ever before. And with the MARC preparing to open its new warehouse in Swedesboro, NJ, the organization’s capacity to support regional partnerships like this one will only continue to grow.

What began as a local idea has become a model for how collaboration, coordination, and compassion can scale impact across states and systems. By combining AGAR’s agricultural generosity, the MARC’s regional infrastructure, government officials’ state-wide support, and the food banks’ community reach, this partnership demonstrates how collective expertise can make meaningful progress toward ending hunger by increasing access to fresh, healthy food.