The Food Access Program facilitates the intentional production and distribution of food grown at the Hudson Valley Farm Hub.
We do this by engaging with our donation partners in the local emergency feeding system.
Our vegetables are grown year-round and can be found in food pantries, low-cost farm stands, community fridges, free meal programs and other food access programs throughout the Hudson Valley. We also partner with cultural institutions to support their programs and events celebrating the importance of diverse foodways and cuisine.
We are beginning to work with a few select mission-aligned wholesale customers. These enterprises are working to increase access to minimally processed local foods including flour, tortillas, fresh-cut vegetables and potentially ready-to-eat meals. These products will be found at farmer’s markets, local retailers and public schools. We support these local agricultural and food initiatives, such as the newly established Milestone Mill, as they expand opportunities for growers and increase local food offerings.
“Hunger is not an issue of charity, but an issue of justice”
Additionally, we are engaged in Food Justice working groups advocating to increase food security by reducing systemic barriers.
We do this by providing vegetables to direct service work and actively participate in long-term systems change. We are proud members of the Hudson Valley Food Systems Coalition, Eat Well Kingston, Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS), and the Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative.
The Food Access Program also contributes to staff engagement. We value everyone who lives and works on the farm and strive to create additional engagement opportunities on our farm for our staff. We have an abundant staff garden and are working to increase on-farm experiences and opportunities centered around seed education, growing food, nutrition and culinary exploration.
The Farm Hub is pleased to introduce flour, corn meal, beans, tortillas and tortilla chips made from organic ingredients grown at the Farm Hub and processed with co-packers around the state. These products are being sold under the newly created Milestone Mill brand. Milestone Mill is part of a new non-profit enterprise under development with NoVo Foundation and currently being incubated at the Farm Hub. Read more here.
Growing with the Grain
Reports
Reviving Grain in the Hudson Valley
Poughkeepsie City School District Farm to School Project
Hudson Valley Food Hubs Initiative
Resources
Farms to Institutions NYS
Empowering institutions to spend at least 25% of their food budget on foods grown in New York.
Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative
Emergency hotline, volunteer opportunities, and more information.
Low-cost Food Resource Map
Where to find free and low-cost food in and around Kingston, NY.
Contact
For general information and food donation requests:
Katrina Light, Food Access Program Manager, [email protected]