A Win-Win For Urban & Rural Areas
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced $260,000 in funding for the third year of the “FreshConnect” farmers’ market program, which brings fresh food from New York farms to underserved communities throughout the state.
Building on the experience gained in the first two years of the Fresh- Connect program, new components have been added to enhance and increase the involvement of youth participation in the food system and the mechanisms to deliver healthy food products to those in need.
This year, the FreshConnect program will help increase locallygrown food products throughout the state through projects such as youth markets, delivery of products to low-income housing facilities and new initiatives at traditional farmers’ markets.
“Our FreshConnect Farmers’ Markets are getting better and better every year,” said Cuomo. “Not only are we helping New York farmers bring their products to market, but we are bringing fresh food from these farmers to traditionally underserved communities. This initiative is great for New York agriculture and a tremendous boost to the public health of our citizens.”
Launched by the governor in 2011, the FreshConnect program is designed to foster new farmers’ markets and support existing markets that provide fresh produce to high-need areas throughout the state. In some areas, the program serves rural or urban populations that do not have sufficient access to grocery stores; in others, it provides low-income, highunemployment neighborhoods with healthy, New York-grown produce, as well as local jobs.
Funding was awarded by way of a competitive process. In total, 23 projects totaling $260,000 received funding under this request for proposals.
– Traditional FreshConnect Farmers’ Markets: 14 projects totaling $130,000. Funding will support multiple grant projects to improve access of underserved communities to New York farm products at farmers’ markets. New and existing farmers’ markets, municipalities and not-forprofits applied for up to $10,000 each. The best ideas on how to improve access to farmers’ market produce were awarded funding.
– Youth Markets: Five projects totaling $80,000. Funding will support multiple youth-staffed market programs, one of the most effective models for reaching nutritionally underserved neighborhoods. Youth markets will also help train youth to operate all aspects of a farmers’ market in the neighborhood using food purchased from local farmers. Youth will be active participants in all aspects of planning and running the market. Funding was awarded to organizations that demonstrated sustainability and growth of youth market programs.
– Food Box: Four projects totaling $50,000. This program supports pilot projects that enable underserved, low-income communities to purchase fresh, locally-sourced fruits and vegetables in pre-packed boxes. Food Box customers will have the flexibility to pay for their boxes weekly, biweekly, or monthly depending on the pick-up schedule of each project. Food Box customers will have the option to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to pay for their boxes. State funding will cover administrative costs associated with a qualified organization procuring, transporting and distributing the food to low-income New Yorkers.
The awardees include:
– Woodhall Community DMA/Graham BID, Brooklyn, $8,800 for farmers’ markets.
– EcoStation: NY/Bushwick Farmers’ Market, $10,000; and
– Grow NYC, $20,000 for youth markets and $25,000 for the food box pilot project.
State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine said, “We couldn’t be more pleased that Governor Cuomo is continuing our highly-successful FreshConnect Farmers’ Markets program for a third straight year. It’s an initiative that just keeps getting better and better for our hard working farmers and the New Yorkers who have come to enjoy their fresh products. I look forward to another great year at these first-class marketplaces.”
