I read Blake McCartney’s column regarding the farm bill (“You should care about the farm bill,” May 1). While I agree with the author that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is needed, as a volunteer at the local food pantry, I take exception to the implication that food pantries do not provide nutritious food for our customers.

We have many sources for fresh produce. Most pantries obtain food from the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, which usually has a good supply of produce. Also through GSFB, many of us participate in Hannaford’s fresh rescue program; some of the produce is a little old, but we don’t mind. We sort the produce, the older stuff is given to a local pig farmer, who is so grateful that he supplies us with some of the eggs we give our customers.

One of our supporting churches purchases a farm share from a local farm. These vegetable are just picked and wonderful; this is great for our customers and the local farmer. We also receive donations from area gardeners. All of our produce is displayed beautifully to draw people to them. While we normally suggest that customers visit the food pantry once a month, we encourage them to come more often for produce and bread, and many do.

In the fall, we work with local farmers to supply us with winter squash and apples, and we also purchase produce to ensure that we always have potatoes, carrots and onions.

It’s not all that long ago that, in New England, winter vegetables were limited to items that keep well — iceberg lettuce and hothouse tomatoes. We always supplemented with canned or frozen vegetables, and all food pantries have a good supply of those.

Carol Fuller

Mount Vernon