The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Farm received a new delivery on Tuesday, but it wasn’t just any delivery. It was a John Deere Z730M ZTrak Zero Turn Mower. For those who are not lawn and field aficionados, this mower has a 24-horsepower engine, with a 54 or 60 inch high-capacity PRO mower deck with welded deck reinforcement, and a 22.5 inch seat with adjustable armrests, springs and ComfortGlide (trademarked) suspension. This is not just any mower. This baby rides! It lists for $7,649, and it was a generous gift from the John Deere Agriculture & Turf Division.
The Z730M ZTrak Zero Turn Mower has just been released. It’s perfect for the small farm, according to Product Manager Nick Minas. It’s highly customizable and commercially tough and user-friendly. What does that mean for the Food Shuttle farmers? Well, for one thing, they’ll be able to mow much faster than they have been. This means more crops harvested and available for the families relying on the Food Shuttle for fresh produce. And finally, having a good commercial mower like the Z730M ZTrak ultimately saves money in maintenance and repairs—a necessity for a not-for-profit operation like the Food Shuttle Farm.
The Food Shuttle Farm has enjoyed a long-running relationship with the folks at John Deere. The company has provided teams of volunteers to help out at the Farm for on a recurring basis. When the Farm moved to its current location on Dover Farm Road, John Deere personnel recognized the need for heavy-duty equipment and arranged for the long-term loan of a sub soiler and a large tractor to pull it. Then there is the matter of financial support. The John Deere Foundation made a generous $180,000 grant in 2018 to support Inter-Faith Food Shuttle programs over the course of three years. All in all, John Deere has been an empowering partner in the Food Shuttle’s innovative efforts to end hunger in the Triangle community.
“Inter-Faith Food Shuttle are great partners. They are connected to our brand, to our company. They are connected to the land, to what we represent,” said Chase Tew, Product Marketing Manager for John Deere and frequent volunteer at the Food Shuttle. Nick Minas, Product Manager agreed. “You’re part of the community. We’re part of the community. Our connection is just better for the community.”