Free Farm Stand Expands Programs and Reach
Broome County Health Department Grant Helps with Food Access
(WAVERLY, NY) – The Broome County Health Department’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) Grant is excited to announce the expansion of Happy Compromise Farm + Sanctuary (HCF+S)’s Community Farm, which provides beyond organic produce and plant starts to those in need through their Free Farm Stand.
HCF+S was awarded funds under the CHSC Grant’s Food Service Guidelines initiative, a strategy that aims to improve access to healthy food in Broome and Tioga counties. Before working with the CHSC grant, the nonprofit was already serving a rural and food insecure community, giving away thousands of pounds of produce and plant starts each year. The funds from the CHSC grant supported the addition of food preparation items and farm supplies. These will assist HCF+S in expanding their programs and reach, particularly in educating the community about healthy eating, locally grown vegetables, and food preservation.
“Happy Compromise is helping such a hard-to-reach population,” says Devin Link, Public Health Educator at the Broome County Health Department. “People living in rural areas often have a hard time getting to or affording fresh fruit and vegetables, especially if they’re organic. By being available right in their community, the farm stand helps to remove that transportation barrier.”
“These new items are going to be a huge help,” adds Eryn Leavens, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Happy Compromise Farm and Sanctuary. “They’ll make it possible for us to extend our open hours beyond the traditional growing season by dehydrating or canning our produce, which expands the shelf life of what we grow”
Happy Compromise Farm + Sanctuary’s Free Farm Stand is open from 11am-7pm every day. If community members would like to stop by, they can reach out to HCF+S directly on Facebook/Instagram @HappyCompromiseFarm or email at info@happycompromisefarm.org.
CHSC is a five-year initiative funded by the New York State Department of Health to establish and support healthy behaviors in high-needs communities. The New York State Department of Health Division of Chronic Disease Prevention implements evidence-based, evidenced-informed, and innovative public health strategies in order to support New Yorkers to live healthier lives and eliminate health disparities by reducing the incidence and burden of chronic diseases and conditions For more information, visit https://broomecountyny.gov/hd/chsc.
