(WNY News Now) – JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK – The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County proudly announces the success and continued expansion of its Grow Chautauqua pilot program. Funded by the USDA and the NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ New York Food for New York Families initiative, this program launched on June 12th and partners with various community organizations to provide free local produce and food products to residents.
Distributions are held weekly at the Jamestown Mobile Market, Chautauqua County Rural Ministries, Ripley Public Library, and in collaboration with the Office for the Aging’s Local Roots program. Since the season began, CCE has distributed over 50,000 pounds of locally grown and produced food to Jamestown, Dunkirk, Ripley, and neighboring areas. Farmers are compensated at full market value for their products, which are distributed in low-food-access areas.
Participating Farms and Producers:
- Yerico Farms (Dunkirk)
- Roberto Fred Farms (Dunkirk)
- Lizzie Byler (Frewsburg)
- Bit-o-Breeze Farm (Jamestown)
- Snowbelt Gardens (Jamestown)
- Feinen Farms (Dunkirk)
- Maggitti Farms (Dunkirk)
- Sunshine Honey (Sherman)
- Degolier Maple Products (Forestville)
- Roo Haven Farms (Forestville)
- JM Joy Farms (Fredonia)
- Miller’s Apples (Dunkirk)
- Abers Acres (Kennedy)
- Amanda Byler (Frewsburg)
- Eden Valley Creamery (South Dayton)
- Ellicottville Greens (Olean)
- Stand Fast Farm (Dunkirk)
- Green Heron Growers (Panama)
- Carli Cook (Stockton)
- Enjoyable Acres (Fredonia)
- Clymer Produce Auction (Clymer)
Produce is delivered to Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce & Garden Center for packaging. Abers Acres handles packaging for the Local Roots program. Other items include beef, pork, cheese, bread, jams, jellies, eggs, and maple syrup or honey.
Starting August 7th, the Grow Chautauqua program will expand to Friendship Baptist Church in Dunkirk, providing 50 boxes bi-weekly. Community Food System Coordinator Linnea Haskin stated, “The program has always been about increasing food access first. In planning the project, CCE has learned of the many opportunities, and at times, barriers, our
communities face when it comes to accessing fresh, and local, foods. Partnering with Friendship Baptist church will further expand the reach, while helping CCE and local farmers better understand how to best serve communities, particularly those made vulnerable due to poverty, age, race or geographic location.”
Local farmers benefit from the program as well, finding consistent markets for their products. Derek Yerico of Yerico Farms commented, “It’s a win-win…helps the community but it also gets [the farm] nice orders…like many, this year has been tough. We are honored and thankful to be a part of [the program].”
Distribution Locations and Times:
- Jamestown Mobile Market: Various locations, Wednesdays 10 AM – 2 PM, Thursdays 1 PM – 5 PM. More info: Jamestown Mobile Market
- Friendship Baptist Church: E Second St., Wednesdays 11 AM until gone.
- Chautauqua County Rural Ministries: Washington Ave, Wednesdays from 12:30 PM until gone.
- Ripley Public Library: Main Street, Saturdays, 11 AM until gone.
Farmers or food producers interested in participating can contact Linnea Haskin at 716-664-9502, ext. 210. More information on participating farms can be found at Chautauqua Grown map.
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