WASHINGTON — Sterling, Virginia-based JK Moving, which has grown to the largest independent moving company in North America, is starting a farm in Loudoun County to address hunger relief causes in the region.
The JK Community Farm is being planted on land recently purchased by JK Moving founder Chuck Kuhn in Purcellville, Virginia. It will start with 4 acres growing more than 16 types of vegetables. The Kuhn family will also donate beef, pork and venison to hunger relief nonprofits.
The farm will eventually be expanded with more acreage in years to come.
Kuhn estimates the farm will donate 53,000 pounds of crops and meat in its first year, with a retail value of about $235,000.
“We are part of this community, and I know that poverty is a very real issue here,” Kuhn said.
“I wanted to develop a charitable effort that meets the critical community needs in a very tangible way [and] using my land to grow and share food is a way we can contribute and address hunger issues by providing healthy foods throughout the year,” he said.
Foods produced by the farm will be donated to nonprofits that include Loudoun Hunger Relief, which will also act as distribution partner to other nonprofits.
“A diet of shelf-stable foods, common to emergency food pantries, fill(s) stomachs but does not lead to healthy outcomes. We’ve increased our fresh produce storage and distribution capabilities drastically and look forward to being able to share the JK Community Farm’s produce and meat donations,” said Jennifer Montgomery, executive director of Loudoun Hunger Relief.
The JK Community Farm will also host educational classes for nonprofit clients about cooking, gardening and nutrition, and provide volunteering opportunities for JK Moving employees and others in the community.
JK Moving says more than 14,000 Loudoun County residents suffer from food insecurity, and half of those served at food pantries are children.