[MUSIC]

[DRU ZUCCHINO]

Farmers aren't the problem.

People who eat aren't the problem.

It's very clearly what they have access to. That's what the barrier is here.

[SIERRA BRYANT]

We live in a really low income area. So when people are at the grocery store shopping, one of the first things that they compromise on is fresh produce and fresh fruits.

Especially if the quality isn’t there in the grocery store. It's understandable that people aren't willing to just split with those dollars for produce that's going to last two days.

[SCREEN TEXT] Sierra Bryant, TRACTOR Food and Farms, Operations Manager

TRACTOR was originally created by farmers for farmers.

[SCREEN TEXT] Gretchen Ferrell, TRACTOR Food and Farms, Farmer Services Coordinator

We've been with TRACTOR since near the beginning, but it was just little stuff at the start.

And then COVID year, I think is when we really ramped it up.

[SCREEN TEXT] Dru Zucchino, TRACTOR Food and Farms, Executive Director

TRACTOR has always been like a farmer-first organization.

[SIERRA BRYANT]

So much of what we do as an organization is creating community.

[GRETCHEN FERRELL]

They've never given push back on a price that I am like, "This is what it is. You know, this is the size." But that dialogue is always open if it needs to be.

It's a game-changer for sure. I wish all communities had that opportunity.

[DRU ZUCCHINO]

Because we work so closely with farmers, we ask the community what they want. 

Whether they're a restaurant, SNAP customer, clinical referral, Medicaid, paying customer, whatever they are: Within 72 hours of harvest, our product is like reaching the consumer.

[SIERRA BRYANT]

So our our clients that our customers get to engage with our farmers, our farmers get to engage with each other.

[GRETCHEN FERRELL]

We love this. You know, you get a lot of like, "Thanks."

And that's what keeps you going throughout the week. You're like, "I'm doing this and people appreciate it."

[SIERRA BRYANT]

The older generation is helping the younger generation with technique, whereas the younger generation helps the older generation with like bookkeeping.

You know, new technologies.

[DRU ZUCCHINO]

There's a lot of aspects of this food that you cannot put a price tag on.

[BELL CHIMING, MUSIC]

We have a referral process where like a a physician can say, "This is my client and they're diabetic and they could really benefit from a fresh diet."

You would basically build a profile in a relationship with this individual – like any other customer – and say, you know, "What do you like? What do you not like?"

So, we feel connected to the clinical space in that we are research and development for that in food.

Like, what's the middle ground between the health industry and agriculture? 

[GRETCHEN FERRELL]

Mhmm.

[DRU ZUCCHINO]

If we're going to start talking about food as medicine, this has to have a value.

[GRETCHEN FERRELL]

Yeah. 

[DRU ZUCCHINO]

That's what we're advocating for. And [is to] feel like we're being heard.

[MUSIC]

[DRU ZUCCHINO]

It meant a lot to TRACTOR to be part of the Extra Miles Tour.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina was was able to provide us with a refrigerated truck that doubled our capacity to reach folks in our community seeking healthy food.

It's rare to find a partner that can be so in step with your values.

You know, we're grateful that they can make food and farming a part of it.

[SCREEN TEXT] BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina