The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has introduced Farmers Post, a pilot program in eastern Connecticut, revolutionizing how local farmers deliver their produce directly to households via the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). This innovative approach aims to reduce food waste, cut supply-chain emissions, and ensure fair compensation for small farmers.

Farmers Post capitalizes on the USPS’s Connect Local program, offering cost-effective same-day and next-day delivery options for small businesses. Julia Kurnik, Senior Director of Innovation Start-ups at the Markets Institute of WWF, explains to Food Tank, “The USPS, already visiting every doorstep, makes them an ideal partner, bridging geographic divides.”

Launched in 2020, the program allows farmers to utilize existing postal routes, bypassing traditional market markups and extra charges. Kurnik highlights the disproportionate revenue distribution in the current system, where farmers retain only about seven to eight cents per dollar spent on fresh produce at grocery stores.

Farmers Post addresses this imbalance by creating a more direct connection between farmers and consumers, enabling farmers to retain most of the revenue. This model is particularly advantageous for smaller farms or those in areas lacking access to direct-to-consumer farmers’ markets.

According to WWF, approximately one-third of the U.S.’s available food supply at retail and consumer levels goes uneaten, with 16 percent of this waste occurring on farms due to cosmetic standards from buyers. Farmers Post aims to mitigate such losses by selling produce that might not meet grocery store standards.

WWF also views Farmers Post as a potential solution to food insecurity, which affects about 34 million Americans. The overlap between vegetable farms and food deserts suggests that many struggle to access food even in regions where it is plentifully grown. “Farmers Post could be instrumental in resolving these access issues,” Kurnik notes.

The program has gained support from Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut and interest from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. Its success could lead to a more eco-friendly and financially sustainable food system, enhancing public health through increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

With plans to expand to Virginia and Washington, D.C., Kurnik expresses optimism about the program’s potential for rapid scaling. “If successful, Farmers Post could extend well beyond WWF,” she tells Food Tank, anticipating its growth and widespread impact.