With Spring just around the corner, we wanted to share the news about the return of a special program that benefits individuals and families who live in Chautauqua County – no matter the location or community! Thanks to the USDA, Cornell Cooperative Extension Chautauqua is happy to organize the Grow Chautauqua food box distribution program. Each week, local, county-grown produce is procured and purchased from local farms and distributed at no cost to the local community. All Community Members are welcome to participate.
More details available from CCE’s Linnea Haskin, CCE Community Food Systems Educator.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County is excited to announce the return of New York Food for New York Families ‘Grow Chautauqua’ food distribution events.
A recipient of the NY Food for NY Families funding, via the USDA and New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, CCE will be partnering with several area community organizations and many local farmers for the launch of the program. Main partner Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce (Jamestown) will work to assist in procurement of NYS and Chautauqua grown, raised, and produced products, as well as packaging 500 individual boxes of said product for distribution weekly.
Per NYS Ag and Markets, the New York Food for New York Families Program will maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency in New York State. This funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA).
Main distribution events will begin March 12, 2025, and run weekly through July 31, at four partner organizations. Local food will be offered to all community members at no charge, and identification or proof of income is not required. Food boxes will be distributed on a first come, first served basis, and are not guaranteed. Boxes will include a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables, varying week to week based on the WNY growing season, as well as locally produced products such as cheese, jams, bread, maple syrup, honey, and meat products.
- Chautauqua County Rural Ministry Inc., located on Washington Ave in Dunkirk, will distribute boxes weekly on Wednesdays, starting at noon.
- Friendship Baptist Church of Dunkirk, on Second Street, will begin distributions April 2nd, and continue Wednesdays at 11 a.m.
- The Jamestown Public Market will begin distribution at two locations Fridays: 2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 410 N. Main Street; and 3p.m. at Blackwell Chapel, 610 Spring Street.
- Ripley Public Library will be distributing a total of 100 food boxes to community members on Saturdays starting at 10 a.m.
CCE will continue to procure as much produce and food products local to the county as possible. As this season starts early in spring, products will include hydroponic greens, herbs, local meat products, local cheese and baked goods, and jams/jellies.
All farms and producers are compensated via the grant for products at full market value. Farmers currently contributing to the program include: Yerico Farms; Hidden Valley Produce; Abers Acres; Roberto Fred Farms; Ellicottville Greens; Lizzie Byler; Rosie Joy; Roo Haven Farms; Andrew Munch; Artsy Garden; Eden Valley Creamery; Snowbelt Gardens; Gage Farms; Miller’s Apples; and the Clymer Produce Auction.
Farmers or food producers interested in contributing to the program can contact CCE.
ABOUT CCE – CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.