WILLMAR — Hundreds of vehicles lined up to receive free produce Tuesday afternoon at an emergency farmers market conducted by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland. The drive-through style drop-off in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot was held due to the increased food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The free produce was provided to anyone in need with no information needed except the number of people per household. One box of pre-packed produce was provided to the first 500 households at no cost. The boxes were distributed in a one-way system so there was no need to exit the vehicle.
1/9: Driver Jerome Koopmeiners tells a volunteer how many people are in his household Tuesday afternoon before receiving free produce during the Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot in Willmar. The drive-through style drop off was held due to the increased food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
2/9: Volunteer Paul Cool closes the truck of a vehicle after dropping off a package of free produce Tuesday afternoon during the Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot in Willmar. The drive-through style drop off was held due to the increased food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
3/9: Volunteer Lisa Mord moves a package of produce to be placed in a vehicle Tuesday afternoon during the Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot in Willmar. Produce was provided free to anyone in need with no information needed except the number of people per household. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
4/9: Hundreds of vehicles line up on Olena Avenue southeast to receive free produce Tuesday afternoon at an Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot. The drive-through style drop off was held due to the increased food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
5/9: Free produce was provided to anyone in need with no information needed except the number of people per household at the Emergency Famers’ Market Tuesday afternoon in Willmar. One box of pre-packed produce was provided to the first 500 households at no cost. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
6/9: Alana Ziehl, Executive Director of the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, asks a driver how many households they are picking up for Tuesday afternoon during the Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot in Willmar. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
7/9: Hundreds of vehicles line up to receive free produce Tuesday afternoon at an Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot. The drive-through style drop off was held due to the increased food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
8/9: Volunteer Barry Lynch places a package of free produce into a vehicle Tuesday afternoon during the Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot in Willmar. The drive-through style drop off was held due to the increased food insecurity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
9/9: Volunteer Steve Bakke helps to package produce Tuesday afternoon during the Emergency Farmers' Market held by the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf and Second Harvest Heartland in the Kandiyohi County YMCA parking lot in Willmar. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
Erica Dischino is a photojournalist for the West Central Tribune and Forum News Service. She grew up in northern New Jersey and has lived in the Midwest since 2017. She enjoys photographing the stories of west central Minnesota from county fairs, parades and pandemics. Feel free to contact her at edischino@wctrib.com or 320-894-8865 with your best photo ideas.
