NORWICH – The dairy products were a vibrant white, the bread felt and smelled freshly baked, the veggies had that fresh from the ground and cold storage solidness to them and the beef had a red vibrancy to it. And it all came from Chenango and surrounding County farmers (and bakers.) Our farmers, our neighbors, people whose life work adds to the quality of life we all enjoy. The open space they create, the taxes they pay, the concern they have for the land, their livestock and the streams that pass through their farms. Like all of us they have their challenges and some are better equipped to deal with protecting their and our precious resources but it was clear from the first “Chenango Bounty: Farmers Market at Your Door” delivery that these farmers took great pride in the products they produced. Over $1,000 sold: dairy products from Evans Farmhouse, produce from Norwich Meadows and Lamb Quarters Farm, all from Chenango County; beef from Maple Avenue Farm, Madison County; and baked goods from Ithaca Bakery, Tompkins County. These were the sources of goodness from our region. And of that $1,037 of food sold $800 went into the pockets of the farmers from that first delivery.
It occurs to me, why wouldn’t we buy our food from local farmers? Why wouldn’t we want them to get a fair retail price for what they labor to produce? If we can benefit from the bounty they provide why shouldn’t I be willing to make the commitment to buy locally grown and produced food and benefit from the added freshness, the added goodness? After all, I like knowing where my food dollar goes and I like knowing to whom it goes. I like the idea that my food dollar can roll into contributing to the quality of life of my family and that of my neighbors. “Chenango Bounty” is being coordinated by the Chenango Agricultural Development Council, which is partnering with Central NY RC&D, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Chenango Cooperative Extension, Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship, Huot Hills Farm, Norwich Meadows Farm and ID Marketing. This strong partnership was able to attract funding from the Chenango County Legislature Economic Development Committee and the New York Farm Viability Institute that will help sustain the effort for a minimum of two years.
Just like the first 16 customers who are participating in the pilot “Chenango Bounty” food delivery enterprise, all in Chenango County now have a golden opportunity to purchase and consume food produced right here, near our homes. “Chenango County: Farmers Market at Your Door” is an amazing opportunity to eat well, eat healthy, eat fresh, and eat smart. The idea of cycling our dollars within our community instead depending on someone bringing in produce and meat from 1,500 miles to our table, well from a food security standpoint it just makes sense. Talk about a 100 mile diet, “Chenango Bounty” will be more like a 50 mile or 25 mile diet. As Troy Bishopp, Chairman of the Central NY RC&D Council likes to say, “Conservation never tasted so good.” We conserve through reduced transportation, we conserve through small farm production, which has a smaller environmental footprint, and we conserve time and fuel through having food delivered across the county to our homes by one truck. Those in Chenango County can access more locally produced food now, and can support local farmers now, and in turn their communities now, by buying local and experiencing “a little sunshine in every bite”, another Bishopp quip when referring to the grass-fed meats available through “Chenango Bounty.”
I have to admit my heart raced when I looked at the crate of local bounty, delivered right to my door. And once I stowed my goodies in the freezer, in the fridge, on top of the fridge and in my basement I immediately started thinking, wonder what I’ll be able to order next week. If you’d like to know what you can order contact us at 334-3231, Ext. 4.