$250,000 Available to Increase Access to Locally Grown Foods and Support New York’s Farmers
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that applications are open to New York organizations for the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program. The program allows SNAP participants to access the popular Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model by providing farm organizations a way to partially subsidize the cost of weekly share purchases while also lending additional support to New York’s farmers and producers. This program builds on Governor Kathy Hochul’s initiatives to boost demand for New York agricultural products, bolster New York’s food supply chain, and ensure all New Yorkers have access to fresh, local foods.
Commissioner Ball said, “One of our top priorities at the Department is to help New Yorkers in underserved communities to access fresh, locally grown, nutritious foods, while supporting our farming businesses at the same time. Our FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program is a great example of connecting these dots, making sure that New Yorkers using SNAP can access CSA shares full of delicious New York grown produce. I encourage eligible organizations to apply and look forward to the continued success of this unique program.”
The FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program helps SNAP participants working with awarded organizations better access CSA shares. Funding provided to eligible applicants, such as not-for-profit organizations, Indian tribal organizations, public educational institutions, and local or municipal governments will offset the cost of weekly CSA shares sold to SNAP participants, lowering the cost to consumers while still providing the farmer with the full price of the food. Up to 50% of the cost of a weekly share purchased by a SNAP recipient with their SNAP benefits may be paid by awarded organizations through this program. The goals of this program are to:
- Support farmers/producers in New York by allowing greater access to their products throughout the state.
- Allow SNAP participants in New York the opportunity to access weekly shares of fresh, locally grown produce.
- Strengthen community bonds and raise awareness of the bounty of New York produce in regions across the state.
Awards for this opportunity will be made on a rolling basis until funds are depleted. A total of $250,000 in funding is available through this Request for Applications. Applications must request the full available award of $50,000 for the project to be considered.
Applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm on August 27, 2024. To provide an overview of the program for potential applicants, a FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Program Informational Webinar will be held on Tuesday, June 18.
Learn more at agriculture.ny.gov/rfa-0338-freshconnect-csa-snap-program.
