City Sprouts produces fresh food to distribute to pantries, address food needs in Omaha
Juli Oberlander • September 30, 2021
City Sprouts produces fresh food to distribute to pantries, address food needs in Omaha
Photos courtesy of Katie Kresha
In response to COVID-19, City Sprouts has expanded its food production to meet the challenge.
Executive Director Katie Kresha says the staff have worked hard to ensure Omahans have access to fresh, healthy food during this difficult time.
"City Sprouts has continued working to increase our food production in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and ensure the food gets to the people that need it most," Kresha says.
In 2021 alone, Kresha says City Sprouts has produced more than 10,000 pounds of food, with more to come. The food is given away at the City Sprouts South Free Farm Stand, donated to local food pantries and sold at the pay-what-you-can Fair Deal Farmers Market.
Kresha says City Sprouts owes its success to the young people who participated in the Urban Farming Internship Program. As part of the internship program, 16 young adults worked at City Sprouts' urban farm sites to plant and harvest produce to sell at the farmers markets.
"Our food is produced thanks to the hard work of our staff and summer Urban Farming Internship Program interns," Kresha says. "These amazing young people work at our various urban farm sites throughout Omaha, weeding, planting and harvesting in the summer heat. They also get to have many wonderful development opportunities, meeting with local nonprofit and business leaders and participating in leadership development programming."
In addition to honing their gardening abilities, Kresha says the interns received training in agriculture, horticulture, culinary arts, public health and life skills. The program also helps interns gain experience in customer service, job readiness and leadership, according to the City Sprouts website.
Along with receiving valuable life experiences, Kresha says the interns have the opportunity to help feed the community by harvesting produce and selling the food at the City Sprouts farm stand.
She says the work would not happen without the support of the interns, the community and City Sprouts' nonprofit partners.
"We are so grateful to our interns, our community, and all of our partners that have made this work possible," Kresha says.
To learn more about City Sprouts, visit the website
and Facebook page.
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