At Erickson Fields Preserve in Rockport, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) runs several agricultural programs for youth, teens and families. Teen Agriculture Crew (TAg Crew) is a social entrepreneurial program where teens are paid during the summer to grow food to donate to food pantries. The program focuses on six to eight teens ages 14‒18 and incorporates leadership and business planning skills in addition to training centered around managing the 4-acre market garden.

The program has steadily expanded, now encompassing 4 acres on MCHT Erickson Fields Preserve with a dog-friendly 2.5-mile trail and the construction of a walk-in cooler, produce wash station and seeding greenhouse to improve farm efficiency.

In addition to local food pantries, TAg Crew supplies fresh produce to the area public schools, a retirement home and several restaurant accounts. The TAg Crew has distributed over 20,000 pounds of fresh vegetables to six food pantries annually.

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