Nutrition Education
Plant a Row for the Hungry
Gardening for Good! Plant a Row for the Hungry
If you’ve been to the grocery store, you know food costs have skyrocketed. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates wholesale produce prices jumped 38% last July! For our low-income neighbors and for people on fixed incomes, those prices have severe consequences. Families may not have enough food or enough nutrient-dense food to feed their families. Fresh produce may be an expense some families simply cannot afford.
In Door County, more than 2,000 people (6.6%) rely on federal benefits to purchase food for themselves and their families. To be eligible for FoodShare, a family of four must earn less than $60K per year. About 39% of Door County school children receive free or reduced-price meals, meaning their families may also be struggling.
Our rural food pantries are struggling to meet these needs. Food pantry use has surged since 2025, with 90% of pantries in the US seeing increased client traffic. What can you do?
If you garden for yourself, consider planting an extra row of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce or peas to donate. The Plant a Row project simply means planting extra of whatever you already grow with the plan to donate it to a food pantry. You can find resources for yourself or your club at Doing Good Together https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/projects/plant-a-row
In Door County, you can contact food pantries including through the Door County Food Pantry Coalition, which is facilitated by Adam Peronto at the Door County Community Foundation, email adam@givedoorcounty.org or phone 920-746-1786. Most pantries gladly accept homegrown vegetables, but it’s important to drop them off at a time they can be distributed promptly.
No garden space? Consider container gardening or growing a simple pot of herbs like cilantro, parsley, or chives.
No time? Your financial contribution of only $9 can purchase a 50lb bag of potatoes or onions to support food pantry efforts to purchase fresh produce wholesale. $20 brings in a 50lb bag of carrots. Ask Adam Peronto about how to contribute! Door County food pantries have been collaborating to purchase large quantities at wholesale prices. You can help!
Ask Wisconsin AnswerLine – Food Safety and Preservation – Health & Well-Being
Wisconsin residents can call or email the Wisconsin AnswerLine to get answers to common questions about food safety, home food preservation, household management, and more. This service is part of a partnership between UW–Madison Extension and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The information provided is based on the latest research and is free to the public.
Food Access Map
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension-Brown County released the virtual NEW Food Access Map. The objective of this map is to highlight places for households to obtain food in Brown, Door, Kewaunee and Manitowoc Counties. The map focuses on these categories: Community Gardens, Stores accepting EBT, Farmers Markets, Food Pantries, Grocery Stores, Cultural Grocery Stores and Meal Programs.
Farmers Markets
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides seniors with fresh, locally grown produce, while supporting Wisconsin farmers, markets, and farm stands.
FoodShare benefits can also be used at many farmers markets to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
FoodShare
Protect Your FoodShare Benefits
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has received multiple reports of scammers stealing FoodShare benefits this week. If you have guests reporting their benefits stolen due to card skimming, cloning, or related activities using federal funds, they can report their loss and potentially have those benefits replaced.
To report stolen benefits, you can use the Fraud Hotline or file a complaint with the Office of the Inspector General.
- Fraud Hotline: 1-877-865-3432
- Report Fraud Form
- Report Public Assistance Fraud
Below are additional resources on keeping your FoodShare benefits safe:
- Choose a hard-to-guess PIN. Don’t use repeating numbers, like 2222, numbers in a row, like 4567, or a pattern such as 1212. Don’t use a birth date or birth year.
- Keep your PIN secret. Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN. Do not share your PIN with anyone you don’t want using your benefits to buy food for your FoodShare household.
- Check your account often. Use the MyACCESS mobile app or the ebtEDGE website or mobile app to check your account often for unauthorized charges. Change your PIN right away if you spot any suspicious charges.
- Freeze your card between uses with the ebtEDGE website or mobile app. When your card is frozen, you and anyone else will be unable to use it. You will need to unfreeze it to make purchases again.
- Block your card from being used on the internet if you don’t shop for groceries online. You also can block out-of-state transactions if you are not traveling outside of Wisconsin.
- Report lost or stolen cards immediately to QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.
Health News from Around Wisconsin
Resources
Can I use my ceramic cooktop stove for canning?
Food Safety, Food Business Development, Meat HACCP
Minimum Cooking Temperatures for Food Safety
Oops… Remaking Jams and Jellies
Play it Safe – Safe Changes and Substitutions to Tested Canning Recipes
Preserve It Fresh, Preserve it Safe
Safe Food Handling and Preparation
Quick Tips for Farmers’ Market Vendors
Whole Grains: Good for Your Heart!
by Jace Purdy, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator
You’ve probably been told to eat whole grains. But what are they? Why are they important? Where are they found in foods?
What is a Whole Grain?
Whole grains are whole because we eat the whole thing, the whole piece of rice or corn or wheat OR we grind the whole seed into flour using all parts. Whole grain products have more fiber and important nutrients, such as B Vitamins, iron, folate, selenium, potassium, and magnesium.
Where do we find Whole Grains?
You can find whole grain versions of rice, bread, cereals, flour, and pasta on most grocery store shelves. Check the label. If the first ingredient is whole grain or “Whole Wheat Flour,” that’s good. The key word is WHOLE. Other common whole grains include brown rice, oatmeal, corn, popcorn, and quinoa.
Why do we want Whole Grains?
Whole grains are naturally higher in fiber and key vitamins and minerals. Fiber helps you feel full and satisfied, so you can maintain a healthy body weight. Diets rich in whole grains are linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Try making one simple swap: whole wheat bread instead of white, brown rice instead of white, or popcorn instead of potato chips. Enjoy whole grain foods AND the health benefits.
Recipes using Whole Grains:
Resources:
Non-discrimination Statements
English: USDA-Nondiscrimination-Statement English
Spanish: USDA-Nondiscrimination-Statement-Spanish