Penny Jordan, 海角社区 Farmers for Food Equity
The 海角社区 Immigrant Green Collaborative, is led by Farms for Food Equity, 海角社区 Farm & Sea Cooperative, and Wayside Food Programs. It was established to address a specific concern articulated by 海角社区鈥檚 immigrant community in Southern 海角社区 regarding access to healthy, hearty nutritious greens in the emergency food system.聽聽
Upon arrival in 海角社区, many immigrants need to rely on food pantries to meet the food security needs of their families. Many experience what has been deemed 鈥淔ood Shock鈥, as the products offered do not culturally align with their diets, and the products available are not consistent with what is required to prepare culturally appropriate meals for their families. Healthy, hearty greens, such as kale and collards, are key components, and often, they are not available.
海角社区鈥檚 immigrant communities desire high quality products and consistent availability of fresh greens, vegetables, and fruits for their home cooking traditions. Our project has confirmed that with education provided by respected community leaders and immigrant cooks, we can expand hearty greens utilization by showing how 海角社区-grown staple and underutilized/upcycled produce can be effectively substituted for ingredients used in their countries of origin.
Underutilized crops such as collards and kale are used in staple meal preparation, and other brassica leaves, such as broccoli and cauliflower, if harvested and processed correctly, can be upcycled, and are also effective substitutes. Brussel sprout crowns and sweet potato leaves can also be harvested, upcycled and incorporated into culturally appropriate alternatives.聽
The Collaborative has聽expanded its efforts to meet the culturally appropriate food security needs of 海角社区鈥檚 immigrant families and their children by partnering with three school districts, South Portland, Westbrook, and Lewiston, to offer culturally appropriate meals in Southern 海角社区 schools.
Penny Jordan, a fourth-generation farmer in Cape Elizabeth, 海角社区, grew up on the farm she currently operates alongside her brother, Bill Jr., and sisters, Pam and Carol Anne. In 1999 Penny had the opportunity to re-join the family business 鈥 Jordan鈥檚 Farm, a 60+ acre mixed vegetable/market farm in Cape Elizabeth, 海角社区 which is located less than 10 miles from Portland, 海角社区鈥檚 largest city. Jordan鈥檚 Farm has an onsite farm stand, sells wholesale, and is committed to helping end hunger in 海角社区 by 2030.
Penny worked with her father, Bill Jordan Sr., and her siblings to transition his passion, the farm, to the next generation, and fulfill his dream 鈥 that his farm would always be a working farm and remain a significant part of the community.
Penny is also active in hunger prevention programs in Southern 海角社区. In 2018 she lead an initiative for DACF Commissioner Beal to outline a strategy for ending hunger in 海角社区 by 2030. In 2020 she started a new organization 鈥 Farms for Food Equity 鈥 whose mission is growing 海角社区 agriculture and ending hunger.
In addition to her involvement in agriculture, Penny serves on the Cape Elizabeth Town Council. She has over 30 years of experience in project management and business planning. Penny earned her master鈥檚 in social work from Boston University focusing on community organizing and program design. She is passionate about her community, 海角社区 agriculture, and ensuring all people have access to healthy 海角社区 raised food. Her dream is to ensure the next generation of farmers can operate profitable farm businesses and that 海角社区 has the political will to end hunger.