Food Delivery Wichita Falls

WICHITA FALLS – A program through the Wichita Falls Food Bank is helping bring some green to area food deserts.

Operations Director Wendell Griffin said Produce Express began in October 2013, beginning with a grant for about $150, 000 from the David Tepper Charitable Foundation Inc. Additional grant funding has come from the Priddy Foundation and a Walmart state-giving grant.

Griffin said most of that initial grant funding was used to purchase the refrigerated delivery truck and the remainder and subsequent funding is used to purchase fresh produce. Currently, the program utilizes one delivery truck distributing more than 1 million pounds of fresh vegetable and fruits to 20 sites in 11 counties in North Texas.

“The first year we distributed about 500, 000 pounds of produce. Last year we had about 1 million pounds, and we hope to double that this year and deliver 2 million pounds, ” Griffin said.

The food bank works with agencies already in place in food-distressed areas to get the produce to people in need.

“These agencies often don’t have the capability to handle fresh produce so we go to those locations with the refrigerated truck, ” he said.

Delivery frequency varies on location with some places only open one day a month while other areas receive deliveries every week. Griffin said offerings vary with the seasons and they receive much of their products from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Most recent offering include cabbage, apples, potatoes, turnips, radishes, and cauliflower, which are bagged at the food bank. A family of four or less receives one large bag and four or more gets two bags. Griffin said they have received a great deal of feedback about the program — all positive.

“One woman was so happy and said since receiving the fresh produce delivery her A1C levels had dropped, helping her control her diabetes, ” Griffin said.