Corn for the Community: Our Partnership with Operation Food Search
Out at our field research site in St. Charles, our scientists conduct research that could help feed the world. But for the past few years, a section of that same site has also taken on another job: feeding people right here in St. Louis.
This month, about 20 volunteers gathered at the site early in the morning to harvest nearly a full acre of sweet corn to donate to Operation Food Search (OFS), Missouri's largest independent food bank. This marked the fourth year in a row that the Danforth Center has partnered with OFS in this way, and working together, the two organizations have gotten thousands of pounds of fresh corn to those who need it throughout the St. Louis metro area.
About 20 volunteers joined us at our field site this year to harvest sweet corn for Operation Food Search.
Kernels of an Idea
This tradition traces back to conversations between Dr. Molly Hanlon, Dr. Cody Bagnall and former Assistant Farm Manager Nelson Curran, about what to do with leftover sweet corn from the border rows of research plots. This corn wasn't part of any experiment (just planted to keep other crops along the edges of the field growing normally) but was still perfectly good to eat, and they all saw an opportunity to put it to good use. Cody credits Nelson as the driving force who turned that idea into an ongoing program: growing corn specifically to help individuals facing hunger in our community.
Assistant Farm Manager Liam Bradshaw at this year’s corn harvest.
A Gift to the Region
Today, our current Assistant Farm Manager Liam Bradshaw coordinates the annual program, and he estimated this year's harvest at about five thousand pounds. "This is one of my favorite days of the year," Liam said. "It's a chance for the farm to give back and help fight hunger in such a direct and immediate way."
After the harvest, we sent the corn straight to OFS, which then distributed it for free to places like food pantries and shelters across 24 counties in Missouri and Illinois, landing on dinner tables as soon as the next day. "It's really one of the best gifts you can imagine," said Matt Kasate, Director of In-Kind Donations at Operation Food Search. "It's going to help sustain and provide nutrition to thousands of individuals throughout the area."
We're grateful for OFS's partnership, and for the tireless work they do getting fresh food to families across the region. And we're already looking forward to next year's harvest.
A truck loaded up with sweet corn harvested from our field site.
How You Can Help
This work, and the partnership behind it, is just one example of our broader effort to help fight hunger here and around the world. By making a gift to the Danforth Center's Future Forward campaign, you can support our efforts and be part of creating a better, more food-secure tomorrow.