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For local farmers like KC Mandeville, summer is busier than ever. “We’re a family farm. It’s just my wife, myself, and my son,” KC said. 

From May to October, farms across NYS aren’t just harvesting their produce. They’re also looking for reliable wholesale buyers and the right consumer market. That can be a tough part of the business – especially as grocery store prices and overall cost of living continue to rise.

The Healthy Harvest Program bridges that gap.

By buying fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms and distributing them throughout the Southern Tier, the Food Bank’s Healthy Harvest Program supports the economy and regional agriculture while providing families with nutritious, locally-grown food.

“We’re very happy with our arrangement with the Food Bank,” KC said. 

Every week, the Food Bank stops by Mandeville Farm in Spencer, NY to pick up an order of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, melons, sweet corn, beans, squash, or peppers. That produce then goes directly to partner pantries or programs like the Mobile Food Pantries or Kids’ Farmers Markets.

“It works out great for us,” KC said. “With the Food Bank, they have a place to send whatever we have.” 

Want to support community partnerships like Healthy Harvest that improve food access while strengthening local agriculture? There are plenty of ways to get involved, from giving a one-time or recurring gift or by supporting initiatives like Nourish NY that makes these partnerships possible. 

Together, we can all support and benefit from developing stronger, healthier food systems.