For four generations, family business J.W. Lopes, based in Chelsea, sold produce to restaurants and institutions. When the pandemic hit, and restaurant orders slowed down, Vice President Jeff Kotzen and his wife Elyssa decided to pivot and started selling directly to consumers, under the name New England Country Mart, providing locally sourced products to families throughout the region.

Jeff connected with the Newton Food Pantry last December to help source products for client Holiday Meal Boxes, and the relationship has grown from there. Last summer, the Newton Food Pantry was a beneficiary of New England Country Mart’s Groceries that Give campaign, which highlights a different nonprofit organization every month to receive a percentage of the proceeds from a specific product. “Our relationship with the Newton Food Pantry has been very organic,” says Jeff, “If we set up a food stand for the weekend, we’ll give whatever is left over to the Newton Food Pantry.”

“Jeff clearly has a passion for supporting his neighbors-during the growing season it was common to get a weekend text from him offering cases of tomatoes or nectarines. We are fortunate to have this important partnership and thrilled to be able to support a local business.” 

Regina Wu, Newton Food Pantry President

New England Country Mart’s biggest initiative continues to be providing thousands of Holiday Meal Boxes, which include meat — a whole turkey, half ham or pork loin — salad, dessert, rolls, fruit and vegetables.