KINGSTON – A Micro Purchasing Program aimed at increasing the availability of fresh, locally grown food at partner pantries and fighting food insecurity in the region is being launched in Ulster County.
In Ulster, food insecurity has increased to more than 13 percent. That means over 24,000 people in the county could go hungry tomorrow, including 4,630 children, or 1 out of 7.
It is the brainchild of the Regional Food Bank and State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Saugerties), chairwoman of the Agriculture and Food Committee.
The Food Bank will be using Nourish New York funding for this pilot program, said Food Bank spokesman Barry Lewis.
Through this program the Food Bank partners with small farmers in underserved communities to purchase fresh produce and have it go directly to area pantries looking to increase the quantity of fresh produce they are able to distribute.
In Ulster County, the Regional Food Bank is sourcing directly with Hepworth Farms in Marlborough and distributing to Family of Woodstock and People’s Place in Kingston, with plans to expand to other farms in the county in the future.
“By sourcing food from nearby farms, we can reduce costs and keep food local, supporting both our communities and our regional economy,” said Food Bank CEO Ton Nardacci.
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