Grown in New York: FreshConnect

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From the New York State Executive Chamber:

Governor Andrew Cuomo launched the FreshConnect program in 2011 to create new farmers' markets and provide support to existing ones. In addition to providing farmers a consumer outlet, the FreshConnect program helped create local jobs for youth in urban areas and facilitated an increase in the sale of locally-grown food.

After the success of last year's program, the initiative is now expanding to include not just farmers' markets, but other innovative projects that connect underserved communities with New York farm products. Click here to learn more.

Potential expansion projects include:

programs to increase access to farm products at food pantries
delivery programs that send farm goods to areas in need
programs for low-income individuals to access food directly from a farm
new farmers' markets that are located in underserved neighborhoods
satellite markets that purchase produce from an existing market and resell it in an area that cannot support its own market

Grants for potential FreshConnect projects will be awarded on a competitive basis and can be applied for here before April 2, 2012.

The FreshConnect program is helping to bridge the gap between farmers and underserved consumers, while creating local jobs and meeting the needs of all New Yorkers.

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