When one door closes, another one opens. That’s precisely what Jim Bardwell found when lost his job for a commercial heating and air-conditioning company due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim isn’t the kind of guy who sits around waiting for something to happen. He saw a need, stepped forward and created Buy Farm Food to support local farmers. Jim started with Pennrose Farms in Wimauma and is working on new farms to add to the list.

It works like this - you go to his site and click on the box of fresh produce you want, and if you're able donate another to a needy family.  The contents may change from week to week depending on what's fresh and available. Choose the date and time to pickup your order and do that at least two days in advance. Following social distance guideline you don't get out of the car. Show your confirmation number at pickup and the box will be place in your trunk. The boxes are very affordable at $20 for now.

Supporting our local businesses is so important, and ever more so making sure farm-fresh food makes it to our table and to those of families in need. Jim gets the produce himself and takes it to the pickup locations on his own. It’s a healthy way to pay it forward and Jim, you’re one of our heroes for seeing the need and finding a way to meet. Jim and I talked about his mission and why he does it.

Follow Buy Farm Food online on their site, and on Twitter for the latest information on what’s in this week’s box and any change in locations. When you see Jim, say thanks.