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“There is room for anyone who cares about the issue and wants to get involved and make a difference,” said Liz Green, executive director of Three Sisters.

When most people think of a food bank or food collection, the first thing that comes to mind is canned goods, grains, and other items that don’t spoil quickly.

They may not think about fresh produce. Some even think that you shouldn’t bother donating fresh produce to food banks and pantries.

This is where Three Sisters comes into play.

Food Access Farm is based in Ipswich and its work spans the entire North Shore. Its mission is to provide access to fresh produce to “neighbors experiencing food insecurity,” its website states. Three Sisters’ produce reaches over 18 cities and towns in Essex County, its statement says. Over 70 percent of the produce they grow goes to low-income and food-insecure neighbors. But according to executive director Liz Green, that’s been a difficult task lately.

“We are seeing an increasing need at the food banks and pantries we serve and at the people who are coming to us with food,” Green said. “It’s very heartbreaking to have to turn people away.”

According to a study by the Greater Boston Food Bank, about 34 percent of Massachusetts households were food insecure in 2023. According to Massachusetts-based charity Project Bread, food insecurity in the Commonwealth is reaching levels not seen since the pandemic.

For Green, the need for fresh food is greater than ever, which is why Three Sisters is expanding. They have signed a 5-year land deal with the Town of Wenham, which will provide them with a large new piece of farmland to grow their produce.

“This additional farmland will help us grow more food for people who need it. We are very grateful to the Town of Wenham for their stewardship of the farmland and their willingness to partner with us,” Green said in a statement Monday.

Three Sisters will begin growing in Wenham in spring 2025. Green says it can’t start soon enough. She explained that food bank visitors often don’t have access to fresh produce, and the produce they do get is often full of preservatives and chemicals.

“We just believe that people who are trying to make ends meet deserve the freshest and best products,” she said. “If we care about people eating well, then we think they have the right to eat delicious things.”

With this new land, Green says, they can do a lot more. But it’s not just about the land, Green said. It’s also about getting the local communities involved.

“Many of our neighbors are struggling,” she said. “Part of the solution is just being there. There’s room for anyone who cares about this issue to step in and make a difference. When it comes to food insecurity, it’s all hands on deck. It’s overwhelming and challenging, but people can really make a difference.”