Salvation Farms outlines plan for Morrisville food-processing hub to turn farm surplus into school and Meals-on-Wheels supplies

Kelly Dolan, executive director of Salvation Farms, told the Agriculture, Food Resiliency & Forestry committee that the nonprofit has identified a site in downtown Morrisville and is advancing plans to convert a 6,100-square-foot former pharmacy on Congress Street into a food-processing hub.

Dolan said the hub would “aggregate, minimally process and develop markets and distribution models in collaboration with farms and institutions” so local produce can replace out-of-state food in school kitchens, Meals on Wheels programs and other institutional buyers.

The project is funded in part by a state appropriation of $500,000; Dolan said $400,000 is already in hand and the final $100,000 will be paid as a reimbursement when the project is completed. Salvation Farms also received an award from the Northern Borders Regional Commission and plans additional grants and a fundraising campaign to cover capital and operating costs. Dolan estimated a full year of operations in 2026 would cost about $206,000.

Tony Rizzicano, program director for Salvation Farms, described how the hub would turn “seconds” and surplus harvests…