Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Westchester / Putnam / Dutchess New York

Hudson Valley Online Directory Connects Consumers with Local Farm-Fresh Food

May 31, 2020 01:54PM ● By Marilee Burrell
The Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) has published an online directory of its partner farms and producers, with details on how they are changing their operations in response to the pandemic, and whether they offer online ordering, pickup, delivery or similar accommodations.
   
“It’s heartening but certainly no surprise to see the Hudson Valley’s agribusiness community step up to find new ways to do what they do best—feed us,” says HVADC Executive Director Todd Erling. “Their resilience is inspiring, and they deserve our support now more than ever.”
    
When families buy directly from local farms, food producers, farm stands and markets, they have direct access to high-quality food without having to visit chain grocery stores, where the aisles are crowded and the inventory is picked over, Erling says. At the same time, these families are helping the community directly, by patronizing local businesses; and indirectly, by enabling those businesses to donate products to organizations like FeedHV, which fight food scarcity and aid the people most impacted by the pandemic.
   
HVADC’s Farm-Fresh Food Access Directory offers three ways consumers can support local agriculture:
 
Shop Close to Home: Through the directory, consumers can find farms and purveyors in their immediate community and communicate directly with them to see what’s available and the most responsible way to shop.
   
“Supporting the businesses in your own backyard helps maintain the diversity of local agriculture across the region,” Erling says. “You’ll be surprised how much of your shopping you can get done in your town.”
 
Shop Online: Many regional farms and food producers already had or have recently launched online ordering platforms, which allow consumers convenient access to farm-fresh food with reduced personal interactions. Many businesses now offer curbside pickup for preorders and even delivery.
 
Become a CSA member: Prepaying for a Community Supported Agriculture share was already a popular way to support local farms at the financially strenuous beginning of the planting season. The benefits to consumers and the farm are even greater now, Erling says. 
 
“HVADC is inspired by the work of local farms and food producers during this crisis,” he says. “As the pandemic reshapes our economy, the lessons learned will not be forgotten and will surely lead to improved and more versatile services across the food system.”
 
To view the HVADC Farm-Fresh Food Access Directory, visit hvadc.org.