The Rev. Curtis Whittaker (center), founder of Faith Farm and Orchard, cuts the ribbon for the Faith Fresh Frozen facility in Gary. (Photo provided by Food Bank of Northwest Indiana)
In Lake County, the Faith Fresh Frozen facility, part of the Gary-based Faith Farm and Orchard, officially launched with a ribbon cutting Thursday March 21, 2024, providing the community with better access to locally sourced produce flash-frozen at the site, officials said. A news release from Food Bank of Northwest Indiana says the Faith Fresh Frozen project began with a seed planting ceremony in September 2022 and involved renovating a dilapidated structure to create the new center in Gary. Officials say 20% of the food frozen on site will be donated to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and the rest will be sold to generate funding to operate the facility. “It’s fresh and frozen, so it maintains its nutritional value, which means it’s good for you as you eat it,” said the Rev. Curtis Whittaker, founder of the Faith Farm and Orchard, adding that the organization looks to connect with hospitals, school systems, casinos, restaurants and other entities to sell the frozen food.
“It’s a blessing, not just a blessing for this neighborhood, it’s a blessing to this entire city,” said Gary Mayor Eddie Melton. Mark Lopez, senior advisor to U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, commended Whittaker, the Food Bank and all of the partners who came together to help address needs in the community. “You planted seeds of hope,” Lopez said, “and the fruits of those seeds are being realized today and we just urge everyone going forward, that when we collaborate and work together and plant seeds of hope, good things happen.” Food Bank President and CEO Victor Garcia said in the news release that close to $700,000 in support from Feeding America through the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana was used to take Whittaker’s vision from a concept to reality. “Having a partner with Faith Farms and Feeding America, where we can bring healthy produce to food deserts, to those who need it and don’t have access to it, it’s projects like this that move the needle,” Garcia said.
