Healthy Suffolk partners for fresh produce

Published 9:54 pm Thursday, December 12, 2019

Patrons in Suffolk can now purchase delicious, fresh ingredients by the end of the weekend for the holiday cooking plans — or to help others in need this time of year.

Healthy Suffolk is partnering with the Conetoe Family Farm in Conetoe, N.C., to offer holiday seasonal produce boxes. The deadline for orders is Monday, and proceeds will benefit Healthy Suffolk and the Conetoe Family Farm.

Each seasonal produce box includes fresh, nutritional produce and honey that is locally grown at the Conetoe Family Farm. Boxes will include collards, sweet potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, kale, apples, pecans and 16 ounces of honey.

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“This is quality produce that people can use or consume themselves — or split with a friend or a family member,” said Regina Brayboy, executive director for Healthy Suffolk. Local businesses have also purchased boxes as employee holiday gifts, she said.

Customers may also send an email to Healthy Suffolk to donate their box purchases, instead. Healthy Suffolk will then work with community partners to make sure the boxes get to those in need.

Partners to distribute the donations include Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia, Suffolk Parks and Recreation, local churches and other nonprofits.

“If people want to donate a box, we will work with our program partners to get them donated,” Brayboy said.

The produce boxes cost $55, and each feeds a party of four people. Orders will be picked up from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 21 in the parking lot of the East Suffolk Recreation Center, 138 S. Sixth St.

Orders must be placed online, and can be done at healthysuffolkva.org. Call 414-7652 or email info@healthysuffolkva.org for more information.