HUDSON – United by a shared mission to address childhood nutrition and food insecurity, YMCA of the North and River Valley Charities are partnering at the Farm at YCMA Camp St. Croix to grow fresh produce for distribution across the region – and are celebrating the fruits of their labor with the community 2-7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Fall Harvest Fest.

Festival attendees can shop produce from local farms and enjoy a build-your-own-pizza market; explore the high tunnel greenhouses and the Discovery Garden while learning from local farmers; and be entertained by live music, hayrides, a barn dance at 5 p.m. (Winsome Hollow String Band) and more. Donations raised at the event will support the work of the farm.

The Farm at Camp St. Croix is the first nearly year-round educational farm in the St. Croix River Valley, allowing kids to learn and farm outside while donating the harvest to those experiencing food insecurity. The farm supplies more than 7,000 pounds of fresh produce per year to local food support organizations. In addition, YMCA Camp St. Croix’s dining hall is literally farm-to-table, putting farm-fresh vegetables into the stomachs of hungry campers. YMCA of the North offers social and education programs, camp opportunities, space rentals and community events like pizza nights and farmers markets to connect the farm to the community.

River Valley Charities is the official community nutrition partner of the Farm at Camp St. Croix. The nonprofit has an established network of food insecurity organizations eager to access fresh, local produce, especially to support healthy development in children. River Valley Charities supports free weekly produce pickups by partners. Food is packaged, picked up and directly distributed to families in need. Produce is shared primarily throughout the Hudson, River Falls and New Richmond communities, with expansion planned as the farm grows. River Valley Charities facilitates fundraising to support the farm partnership and other local food insecurity initiatives, including backpack programs that provide weekend meals for school-aged children in need.

Volunteers are critical to the farm’s operations. River Valley Charities coordinates group farm volunteer opportunities and in 2024 the farm has welcomed partners like Phillips Medisize and Xcel Energy for employee give-back days. Businesses and organizations seeking volunteer and partnership opportunities can contact andy@rivervalleycharities.com.

YMCA Camp St. Croix (use north entrance) is located at 345 Riverview Drive, Hudson.

Submitted by River Valley Charities