Winooski feels flooding damage through its fresh produce

The Intervale Center in Burlington, struck by flooding of the Winooski River. Image courtesy of the Intervale Center Instagram

Editor’s update, 7/9/23: The Intervale Center is currently unable to continue food distributions in Winooski due to state-wide food shortages caused by the July flooding.

Even though Winooksi was spared direct damages from the recent Vermont floods, farms that benefit businesses and food programs in the city have been wiped out, causing delays in restaurants and disrupting free food services people relied on. 

And as communities across the state grieve the losses the floods have caused, groups in and around Winooski are collaborating to help those in need.  

One of the most utilized farms in Chittenden County is the Intervale Community Farm, housed on land in Burlington that has been producing food for people for thousands of years. Croplands at the farm along the Winooski River were washed away during the recent rainfall, and locals are feeling the ruinous effects.

Lena Greenberg, food access coordinator at the farm, runs weekly vegetable drops hosted by the Winooski Memorial Library. People can get free veggies at the drops in a take-what-you-need model as part of a program started to combat spiking food insecurity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, Greenberg estimates a consistent crowd of 150 people in Winooski benefit from the free produce. The floods have not only led to over $1 million dollars in damages, but a loss of food resources that go to people for free, Greenberg said. 

“It is our intention to continue free food distributions uninterrupted because it is clear that this is an essential service,” they said. “I know there’s no grocery store in Winooski, and based on how many people we see on an average week, I know that it would be a hit to the community and to food security if we stopped showing up. So we are not going to do that.”

The program plans to gather produce by a practice called gleaning — in which farms with extra or unwanted produce invite others to harvest crops.

“Often it’s a service,” Greenberg said. “Zucchini needs to get harvested very frequently in the high part of the growing season, so if we can come in and handle one of those harvests, that saves (another farm) some tire and labor, and it means we get a bunch of food to give away for free.”

Despite the losses, the team at Intervale is “working hard to figure out where else the food can come from”, they said. 

Misery Loves Company, a rustic market and restaurant located on the Winooski roundabout, is one business that has benefited from the services provided by the Intervale Community Farm, among others. The store has experienced delays in food shipments because of the flooding, said owner Laura Wade. Wade said she feels nothing but gratitude during these times as “it could have been any of us.” 

The basic supply chain for businesses has been broken, and farms that survived the natural disaster are now being overwhelmed with new orders. Wade said she traveled to other parts of the state, primarily Montpelier, to show support for her fellow entrepreneurs that had been affected. 

As she waded through high waters to get to once bustling restaurants, her heart broke for her friends and the difficult journey they face in rebuilding. 

Winooski outfits like Misery Loves Company and the Intervale Community Farm have been working around the clock to return to normalcy. 

Poppy Sandwich Shop in Burlington has put together donations to help fund the Intervale and plans to work with other businesses to organize a fundraiser dinner. Wade urged people to get connected with the World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides meals after natural disasters, to learn what they can do to take an active role in rebuilding affected businesses.

Editor’s note, 7/9/23: The pronouns of Lena Greenberg have been edited and corrected, the initial publication used incorrect pronouns.