House of Hope Opens Packing House in Palm City, Provides More Fresh Produce to Clients
STUART, Fla. – A fully operational Packing House, hydroponic greenhouses, gardens and an orchard were open for visitors at a ribbon cutting event at House of Hope’s Growing Hope Farm in Palm City in early June.
The Packing House has been a major project of the nonprofit. It uses state of the art equipment to clean and package fresh produce grown on the farm and other produce that is gleaned or donated. That produce is then distributed to House of Hope clients at its four Client Choice Food Pantries and is shared with community food pantry partners.
“We made it a goal to find ways to improve the nutritional status of the people we serve, and the Packing House is an important piece of our overall plan,” House of Hope Rob Ranieri said. “By cleaning and packaging fresh produce in our own packing house, we are able to boost the nutritional content of our clients’ diets and even help them to develop a taste for fruits and vegetables.”
House of Hope sees an additional role for the packing house: to serve local farmers who would find value in cleaning and packing their own produce near their farms and local markets. “We see this as a service to our farmers and also an additional way for House of Hope to earn revenue to help support our many community programs,” Ranieri said.
The ribbon cutting was held in partnership with the Palm City Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Executive Director Missi Campbell praised House of Hope for its vision in improving nutrition and being entrepreneurial in its approach. “House of Hope realizes that sometimes people just need a hand up and not a hand out, and they are there for our local families. House of Hope helps with housing, education, and life skills for those in need. Martin County is very fortunate to have House of Hope in our community, empowering our residents in need with housing, education, life skills, and even better ways of eating.”
Fresh produce from Growing Hope Farm is now being sold to the public at the Palm City Farms Produce & Market next to the farm on Citrus Boulevard in Palm City and at the House of Hope Thrift Store on US 1 in Stuart. Ranieri reminded guests at the event that House of Hope depends on volunteers for its successful operation. “We’re always looking for people who would like to be hands-on in helping us harvest, package and distribute fresh food,” Ranieri said. “It’s a volunteer job with very tangible rewards.”
For more information about House of Hope, its Growing Hope Farm, and volunteer activities, visit House of Hope’s website at www.hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673.
About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 21,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future.
The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, with thrift stores in Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at Golden Gate in Stuart, in Jensen Beach, and at KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being.
House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook, Instagram, and X.