Cultivating Community: How Nonprofits are Transforming Adirondack's Local Food Landscape

In the vast expanse of the Adirondacks, where rugged terrain and sparse population pose unique challenges, a network of nonprofit organizations is working tirelessly to expand access to locally grown, nutritious food. From connecting farmers to distant markets to subsidizing community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares for low-income households, these innovative initiatives are reshaping the region's food system, one community at a time.

Empowering Adirondack Farmers and Feeding Local Residents

Overcoming Geographic Barriers

When Adam Reed moved his organic vegetable farm, Tangleroot, to the Adirondacks, he faced a new set of obstacles. The region's low population density and vast distances between communities made it challenging to reach a sufficient customer base. However, with the support of nonprofit partners, Reed has been able to maintain his customer base in Saratoga County while finding ways to deliver his produce to far-flung Adirondack residents.The Essex Food Hub and AdkAction have played a crucial role in this endeavor. The Essex Food Hub operates as a commercial distributor, taking wholesale orders from Tangleroot and other local producers and delivering their goods to buyers across the region, including in the more isolated areas of the Adirondack Park. Meanwhile, AdkAction's Fair Share program subsidizes CSA farm shares for lower-income households, ensuring that Reed's high-quality, organic produce is accessible to those who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Building a Resilient Food System

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the industrial food system, leading to supply chain disruptions, food shortages, and soaring labor costs. In response, a coalition of Adirondack organizations formed the Adirondack Food System Network (AFSN) to build a more resilient and sustainable local food system.AFSN's vision is to create a food system where farmers thrive and every resident has access to high-quality food, regardless of income. To achieve this, the network has hired its first full-time program manager, Josh Stephani, to bring more cohesion and collaboration to the region's fragmented and siloed food system efforts.Stephani's role will be to facilitate idea-sharing and problem-solving among the various groups working towards common goals, helping to strengthen the capacity of community organizations and promote a holistic approach to addressing the Adirondacks' unique food security challenges.

Preserving Farmland and Supporting New Farmers

The Adirondack Land Trust is another key player in the effort to sustain the region's agricultural heritage. The organization has placed around 7,000 acres of farmland under conservation easements, ensuring that this valuable resource remains viable and productive for generations to come.The region is also seeing a promising trend in the form of young, new, and female farmers. Organizations like the Adirondack Council's Essex Farm Institute are working to support these emerging agricultural leaders, providing resources and opportunities to help them thrive in the Adirondack context.

Addressing Food Deserts and Increasing Access

The Adirondacks' vast geography and low population density have created food deserts in many communities, where residents struggle to access fresh, affordable produce and other nutritious foods. Nonprofits are stepping in to fill these gaps through innovative programs.The Essex Food Hub's plans to open a new facility in Westport, complete with commercial kitchens and a market, aim to provide a much-needed grocery option for the surrounding area. Meanwhile, organizations like LivingADK and the Blue Mountain Center are collaborating to connect residents in isolated communities with farmers' market vouchers and other resources to make locally grown food more accessible.In the town of Webb, a new community garden has been established to help address local food insecurity, while the repurposed Inlet Common School has become a hub for indoor farming, a farmers market, and community gardening initiatives.

Strengthening the Safety Net

As the cost of running food pantries has skyrocketed, many Adirondack communities are seeing a rise in demand for emergency food assistance. Organizations like the Indian Lake food pantry are struggling to keep up, facing supply chain issues and dwindling resources.Programs like AdkAction's Fair Share, which subsidizes CSA shares for low-income households, are playing a crucial role in supplementing the work of food pantries and ensuring that families have access to fresh, nutritious produce. Initiatives like Gardenshare's Bonus Bucks program in St. Lawrence County are also empowering residents to stretch their food budgets and support local farmers.Through these multifaceted efforts, the network of Adirondack nonprofits is not only addressing immediate food security needs but also laying the groundwork for a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable local food system – one that can withstand future shocks and provide all residents with the nourishment they need to thrive.