PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County has launched a new
initiative that brings fresh, locally grown food directly to the community.
“I wanted to get the official word out that we have started up our Farm to Truck program, a no-cost program that brings farm fresh food directly to Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess residents,” Ruby Koch-Fienberg, Agriculture and Food Systems Coordinator at CCE Putnam, told Patch.
The new program utilizes a $2 million grant to enhance food security and promote agriculture. The initiative pays local farmers for their produce and collaborates with Westchester-based Meals on Main Street to distribute this food through the truck, which makes stops in various neighborhoods. In addition to the truck, local provisions are sent straight to community organizations including Second Chance Foods in Brewster, Camino al Éxito Project for All in Pawling, and more.
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In June alone, the truck reached nearly 4,000 community members and invested $70,000 in local farms, CCE officials said.
The initiative’s goal is to make seasonal food accessible to all, regardless of financial situation, while strengthening the food system.
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With the support of the New York Food for New York Families program, funded through August 2025 by the USDA and facilitated by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, ‘Farm to Truck’ focuses on stocking shelves with locally grown products from nearby farms, distributed throughout Putnam and also in Ossining and Port Chester in Westchester and Pawling in Dutchess County.
Local farms such as Longhaul Farm, Harlem Valley Homestead, Hemlock Hill Farm, Our New Way Garden and others, provide the community with a bountiful array of tomatoes, summer strawberries, herbaceous papalo, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables, as well as sustainably-raised meats, milk, and eggs.
“We are thrilled to unveil the ‘Farm to Truck’ initiative that directly benefits local residents without judgment,” Koch-Fienberg said. “This program not only supports our farmers but also provides convenient, no-cost access to culturally relevant and nutritious foods for our neighbors in need.”
According to United Way, 28 percent of Putnam County households fall within the ALICE framework, meaning 11,000 families struggle to make ends meet despite being employed, CCE officials said.
For the most up-to-date schedule and more information about the “Farm to Truck” program, visit the website.
SEE ALSO:
Putnam Cooperative Extension Raising Funds For New HQ At Tilly Foster
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