3 NJ community gardens receive grants from Smithfield Foods subsidiary

Three New Jersey community gardens were selected to receive grants from Smithfield Foods’ plant-based subsidiary Pure Farmland.

The Aug. 16 announcement named 55 organizations across 29 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000, in all doling out $125,000 as part of Pure Farmland’s Pure Growth Project, which it launched last year to help increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables nationwide.

Camden City Garden Club Inc. in Camden, Sgt. Anthony Community Garden in Jersey City, and The Zubi Garden in Newark each received grants.

“Through on-the-ground visits and virtual discussions, we saw the direct impact of the funds and how they helped these amazing organizations grow, from greenhouse development and construction of raised beds to fostering educational programs so residents can learn skills to produce their own food,” said Michael Merritt, senior director of marketing for Pure Farmland at Smithfield Foods, in a prepared statement.

“The impact of last year’s Pure Growth Project grant program encouraged Pure Farmland to expand the initiative in 2021 to empower these deserving organizations to continue to do good in their communities,” Merritt said.

Grant amounts per recipient were not disclosed.