Who We Are
Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens, Inc.
Grow. Gather. Give.
About Us
Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to growing and donating healthy, highly desirable produce with local food pantries and meal programs throughout Dane County.
What began with generous landowners offering space for growing produce has continued to flourish over the years, and today MAFPG proudly stewards two of its own farm properties, in addition to several partner growing locations.
The work of planning, planting, harvesting, maintaining gardens, and delivering produce is made possible largely through the dedication of volunteers. Alongside growing food in our gardens, volunteers also help glean surplus produce from local growers who generously donate excess crops so even more fresh food can reach neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Our Mission
GROW. GATHER. GIVE.
Gathering in community.
Growing produce responsibly.
Giving with dignity.
Our Vision
A nourished Dane County where everyone has equitable
and abundant access to highly desirable food.
Our History
In the late 1990s, several churches and service clubs began collecting surplus produce from Saturday Farmer's Market on the Square and from the Fitchburg, Hilldale and Middleton Farmer's Markets. Over 2,000 pounds of produce was collected each week, especially in the late summer. Ken Witte approached Emmett Schulte and stated that this was not enough to satisfy the needs of the low-income housing units, meal programs, and the 32 food pantries in Dane county. In 2000, three 1-acre garden plots were then established, which produced an estimated 60,000 pounds of produce during the summer and fall.
Today, two decades after that first growing season, the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens is able to grow 100,000 pounds of fresh vegetables while continuing the gleaning practice that collects an additional 50,000 pounds of food each year. It is estimated that the Gardens has donated more than two million pounds of produce since its inaugural year.
A brief history of the Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens was compiled in 2010 to celebrate the 10th anniversary. Learn more about where we have been as we continue to look to the future and growing our impact in the Dane County community. Read more about the History of MAFPG (PDF).