With an increase of 27% in
use of emergency food programs in the last year and state
budget cuts in services to the hungry, the need to develop
lasting community food security is essential to the well-being
of millions of New Yorkers. Community food security entails
all members of a community having reliable access to nutritious,
culturally acceptable food through local non-emergency sources.
Answering the call this Spring, community partners ranging
from members of neighborhood associations to farmers to faith-based
service workers in all parts of the State are connecting low
income people with local and affordable organic vegetables
with the assistance of grants from Hunger Action Network of
New York State (HANNYS).
HANNYS is announcing seven projects throughout New York
that will be funded through mini-grants starting in May. "Community
food projects are as diverse as the communities that create
them," says Liz Wagner of Hunger Action. "We are
currently assisting community-based development of community
gardens, a local food buying cooperative, a farm gleaning
project, and community-supported agriculture projects throughout
the state that promise to bring nourishment and economic benefits
to those in need today and into the future."
The Northside Food Network, in collaboration with Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, has teamed with
the Dilmun Hills Student Organic Farm to make Community-Supported
Agriculture (CSA) shares accessible to the low income community
of Ithaca's Northside Neighborhood. CSA communities purchase
a "share" of a farmers' production for the season,
receiving a box of fresh organic vegetables each week and
guaranteeing the farmer has stable demand for his or her harvest.
Coordinator Meg Meixner is also teaming with local farmers
to offer a reduced price sale of farmers' market produce in
the community.
With a small HANNYS grant, the Wake Robin Farm will glean
and deliver potatoes, onions, and a wide variety of other
healthful vegetables to Onondaga County emergency food programs
at an estimated value of $7500. "With over 1000 CSAs
in the USA, similar projects could potentially reach tens
of thousands of the low-income families in our country in
need of fresh produce," says Meg Schader of Wake Robin
Farm, whose goal is that this gleaning project be a model
for other CSAs. In the United States, 90 billion pounds of
food end up in the waste stream each year because the food
fails to reach those in need while it is still fresh
Community food security coalitions, such as the Chenango
County Hunger Coalition, come together to help ensure that
New Yorkers have secure access to food. A partner in the coalition,
Chenango County Catholic Charities, is organizing a local
food buying cooperative, called Bullthistle Bounty, with HANNYS
funds. Community members and tourists will purchase coupons
redeemable for locally grown produce, and also contribute
funds to subsidize coupons for low income members of the community.
Bullthistle Bounty supports local growers while providing
affordable food to the county's needy.
Hunger Action Network has additionally funded two community
gardens through Chautauqua County Rural Ministry and Schoharie
County Action Program. Hudson Guild of New York City and Future
Farms in Chemung County are developing low income CSA projects.
HANNYS is working with these groups to develop community food
security that will ensure equal access to nutritious food
regardless of income. These projects serve as alternatives
to traditional food retail markets and are a community-based
source of healthful food and economic development. Staff is
available to help groups duplicate alternative food projects
in their communities. HANNYS will accept applications for
more community food mini-grants through October 30, 2003,
with funds available through the Indirect Vitamins Purchasers
Antitrust Settlement administered by the Attorney General.
