Farmers helping families in our community with partnerships

We have all been through a lot over the last year. Between shutdowns, school closings, needing masks and hand sanitizer wherever we go, and the constant concern about the spread of a virus. During this time, we have all found ways to survive in a new environment that is full of uncertainty and in many cases despair. Farmers have kept at their work as essential employees during the entire pandemic and have been an integral part of helping others.

We have all heard about the hunger that many of our community members have faced during the lockdowns and the dark days that followed, even though many have some light at the end of the tunnel now with vaccine distribution on the horizon. During this time of need so many community members have stepped up.

Churches, community centers, schools, and other locations became food distribution sites to help feed our friends and neighbors. Many of the people who attended these distributions never thought that they would need to take advantage of programs like this before the pandemic hit the United States.

The New York State government partnered with farmers and food distributors throughout the state to provide over $25 million in farm fresh goods to New York State residents in need through the Nourish N.Y. Program (https:// agriculture.ny.gov/nourishny) and the Governor just allocated another $10 million to the program. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County was able to partner with the Central New York Food Bank to operate one of these distribution sites at the Morrisville Eaton High School last year. All the food for this program was purchased directly from New York State farmers and agricultural businesses.

Another program that has been very successful in distributing food throughout the United States is the Farmers to Families Food Box Program through the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (https://www.ams.usda.gov/ selling-food-to-usda/farmersto-families-food-box). This program has distributed nearly 133 million boxes of food to families in the United States. It is one of the largest purchasing programs in the history of the USDA.

Our farmers were partners in these efforts and none of this food distribution would have been possible without their unwavering commitment to feeding our nation. Perhaps, as we begin this new year, we can all take a moment to consider how lucky we are to live in an agricultural community and how much of an impact all farmers have on our lives.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/ EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Perhaps, as we begin this new year, we can all take a moment to consider how lucky we are to live in an agricultural community and how much of an impact all farmers have on our lives.

PHOTO PROVIDED CCE Madison staff, Board of Directors and other volunteers coordinated a successful Nourish NY food distribution in Morrisville in September of 2020 handing out fresh local produce to around 700 families.