Capstone has been growing food and giving it those in need for free or reduced cost since 2010.  Why!? Capstone is based in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans which is deemed a food desert by USDA. This means there is inadequate healthy food available to low or poverty level income households. The closest grocery store is 3 1/2 miles away and 30% of the households don't have a vehicle. Capstone started keeping honey bees for better pollination in our community gardens over three years ago. Then we found out lots of people love local raw honey. Especially if it's treated properly during processing. For Capstone Raw Honey that means it’s not pasteurized or even heated. It’s not filtered so all the natural pollen, enzymes, color, and flavor remain with the honey. Our honey sales support our mission, and the need for our mission continues to grow! This is where I need your help: In order to expand our honey sales, we need to make the transition from direct sales to the retail sales market and we need to raise enough money to pay for all the permits, licenses, and inspections the state requires; a record keeping software program; the fees associated with obtaining space in a commercial kitchen, and purchase a bottler that will handle raw honey without having to heat it. The bottler will allow us to maintain all the integrity and qualities that make raw honey such a healthy alternative. The total cost of making this expansion to our honey operation is approximately $6,500. If we raise more than $6,500 it will go to expand the number of hives we keep. We have 30 hives right now and have still sold out of Capstone Raw Honey every harvest for two years. Here is a list of the programs your donation and our expanded honey sales will be supporting: ·        Capstone Community Gardens provides home grown food at no or reduced cost to those in need. This is done on  several previously blighted and vacant lots in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. ·        We also have over 60 fruit and citrus trees we have planted and are harvesting from. ·        Capstone Farmers Market is a local market in the Lower 9th Ward making healthy food available to our community and provides a market outlet for local growers. ·        Capstone Sharing Lots Program empowers others with our community to grow food by providing what they need; including the land, tools, and technical assistance. Thanks for your consideration. We will certainly appreciate your donation in any amount as we continue the mission of Capstone to provide fresh, nutritious, and locally grown food to our neighbors in need Love Peace &amp; Unity, David <img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/5981365_1443056768.4495_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /> <img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/5981365_1443060539.1366_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />

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Capstone Raw Honey retail expansion

Capstone Raw Honey retail expansion

Still $3,603 to go. Help us build momentum.