Officials from Albany and around the county gathered at the East End Food Institute’s new building on Main Road in Riverhead today to celebrate the organization’s progress on its regional food hub, supported with a $5 million grant from the state’s Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball was on hand for the occasion. The infrastructure grant program is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
“One of our priorities at the department is ensuring that New York farmers can get their fresh, local food items directly into our communities, and ensuring our schools have the equipment they need to cook from scratch and use ingredients made by our farmers and producers is a crucial part of that effort,” Ball said.
East End Food Institute was one of two recipients of the second round of the program. The grant was announced in May.
East End Food Institute is using the funding to continue work on its food hub, at the former Homeside Florist location. The facility is positioned to serve as a centralized hub for food aggregation, processing and distribution in the Long Island Region, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release. The project will focus on addressing logistical challenges that schools and institutions face in sourcing local food, such as constraints around bidding, pricing and distribution.
East End Food Institute will also incorporate workforce development training into the project by providing staff with training focused on food preparation and production.
The project will support Renderings of the planned Food Hub are available on the Department’s website. This project will support the Riverhead Central School District, Southampton Union Free School District, Westhampton Beach School District and others.
The agriculture secretary today announced the availability of $10 million in funding in Round 3 of the Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program. Round 3 proposals are due on Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. For more information on the program, project eligibility, and how to apply, visit agriculture.ny.gov/Funding-Opportunities. An informational webinar covering important details of this Request for Proposals can be viewed here.
“Through the first two rounds of the program, we are already seeing some exciting progress on projects like a new food hub spearheaded by the East End Food Institute that will benefit farmers and students alike,” Ball said, in a press release issued this afternoon by the governor’s office. “I thank Gov. Hochul for her continued support of this critical program and encourage all eligible applicants to consider applying for Round 3, which provides an opportunity to strengthen our food system and provide delicious, healthy and locally sourced meals to our students while supporting our farmers,” he said.
The Regional School Food Infrastructure program is “transforming food systems in New York and helping to build more resilient local food networks,” East End Food Institute Executive Director Marci Moreau said. “All of us at East End Food are deeply grateful for this partnership, which brings our farmers and schools together, supporting local agriculture while ensuring that every child has access to fresh, nourishing meals,” she said.
“At East End Food Institute, we believe that when we bring farmers and schools together, the process of education itself is enhanced and students gain not only healthier meals, but also a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and the people who grow it,” Moreau said.
“East End Food has been a true leader in connecting local agriculture to our children’s nutritional needs,” Assembly Member Jodi Giglio said today. “Their tireless efforts to strengthen the relationship between our schools and our local farms have made a lasting impact, ensuring that food served in our cafeterias is not only fresh and healthy but also locally sourced,” Giglio said.
County Executive Ed Romaine said the food hub, located “in the heart of farm country” in Suffolk County, is well positioned to provide Suffolk’s schools with fresh vegetables and fruits. It’s “a no brainer,” Romaine said, and “something that should be just par for the course.” He said he supports the program 100%. “So let’s go. Let’s eat local. Let’s grow local and support local,” Romaine said. “Let’s enjoy the fruits of this island and make sure school kids enjoy it as well.”
Today’s program at the food hub wrapped up with a “ceremonial planting” of seeds in a bushel basket filled with soil.
Kate Fullam, former executive director of the East End Food Institute, who now works at the Department of Agriculture and Markets, attended today’s event, as did many members of the institute’s board of directors. Long Island Farm Bureau President Juan Micieli-Martinez was also in attendance, along with LIFB administrative director Bill Zalakar. L.I. Farm Bureau’s former administrative director Rob Carpenter, who is now employed by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, was also at the event.
Work on the food hub’s infrastructure continues. East End Food Institute continues its fundraising efforts both the support the completion of improvements to the facility and to support its operational needs, which the state infrastructure grant does not cover.
East End Food Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Find out more about East End Food and ways to donate here.
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