Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
East End Food Institute is well integrated in the local food system and has a clear vision for improving it. The first phase of this project is underway and includes the relocation of the well-known Riverhead Indoor Farmers Market (now East End Food Market) to a permanent site and enhancing the market with the ability to accept SNAP benefits via the Double Up Food Bucks program. Grant funding will be usedtoward the build-out of a community kitchen that will support value-added processing of local produce, incubation of small-scale local food and beverage businesses, and community education. This central campus will serve as the headquarters for East End Food Institute, a nonprofit whose mission is to support, promote, and advocate for a sustainable and equitable local food system.East End Food Institute has a long history of addressing food insecurity through its Farm to Food Pantry program, and is now partnering with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE Suffolk) on this grant to add programming targeted toward low-income populations in our region. CCE Suffolk's established nutrition education programs bring affordable fruits and vegetables to those suffering from food insecurity, and multilingual nutrition education programs further reinforce proper wellness. With access to East End Food Institute's commercial kitchen, CCE Suffolk will be able to extend its programming to include food demonstrations and cooking education to improve self-reliance for these low-income communities.
Animal Health Component
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Research Effort Categories
Basic
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Applied
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Developmental
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Goals / Objectives
The East End Food Hub project focuses on establishing an economically accessible farmers market and community kitchen as part of a more robust campus style site plan at a centralized location at 139 Main Road in Riverhead, NY. The full site plan proposes investments in high volume produce processing, storage and distribution of local products, production and retail space for food entrepreneurs, communityoutreach and education, food access and nutrition programs, and food systems workforce housing.Prior to the pandemic, East End Food Institute secured $300,000 in funding from New York State toward the build-out of a more robust food processing facility that would support farms and food producers, as well as improve equitable access to healthy local foods. COVID-19 has highlighted many of the issues we aimed to address, and provided the opportunity to expand outreach to partners in local schools,hospitals, food pantries, and other community service organizations.The first phase of this project is underway and includes the relocation of the well-known Riverhead Indoor Farmers Market (now East End Food Market) to a permanent site and enhancing the market with the ability to accept SNAP benefits via the Double Up Food Bucks program. Grant funding will be used toward the build-out of a community kitchen that will support value-added processing of local produce,incubation of small-scale local food and beverage businesses, and community education. This central campus will serve as the headquarters for East End Food Institute, a nonprofit whose mission is to support, promote, and advocate for a sustainable and equitable local food system.East End Food Institute has a long history of addressing food insecurity through its Farm to Food Pantry program, and is now partnering with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE Suffolk) on this grant to add programming targeted toward low-income populations in our region. CCE Suffolk's established nutrition education programs bring affordable fruits and vegetables to those suffering from food insecurity, and multilingual nutrition education programs further reinforce proper wellness. With access to East End Food Institute's commercial kitchen, CCE Suffolk will be able to extend its programming to include food demonstrations and cooking education to improve self-reliance for these low-income communities.
Project Methods
To achieve the project goals and outcomes, East End Food Institute will complete the following work plan:Secure long-term lease or purchase of project properties (Completed - September 2021)East End Food Institute has signed a three-year lease for the existing building at 139 Main Road in Riverhead, NY to pursue site plan and use approvals for the Riverhead Indoor Farmers Market and community kitchen. The lease commenced November 1, 2021 and the market was launched on November 27, 2021, however the long term lease and kitchen buildout is contingent upon funding from this grant proposal or other funding sources.Hire engineering, architectural, and construction team (January 2022)East End Food Institute is working with our local Manufacturing Technology Research Consortium to evaluate architectural and engineering needs, and we have submitted a proposal for funding to the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership to cover these costs.Secure permits and begin construction work at secured property (March - June 2023)Based on the engineering recommendations, East End Food Institute will submit the necessary building permits to Riverhead Town and work with the property owner's construction team to build out the community kitchen element of the project.Purchase equipment and install in new community kitchen (June - August 2023)As the new community kitchen is ready for installation of equipment, we will purchase each items for delivery to the site.Complete equipment installation in community kitchen (September - November 2023)The target date for completion of the community kitchen is timed at the end of the peak growing season for the East End of Long Island. Due to timing, we acknowledge that there may be a need to renew our current use permit at a commercial kitchen in Southampton. We may also reserve both kitchen spaces for a time during this transition.Move East End Food Institute operations to Riverhead (December - March 2024)Our goal is to have a basic community kitchen open by May 2022 to leverage the seasonality of agricultural production on the East End of Long Island. During this time, the market operations would go into a "quiet mode" as vendors typically participate in outdoor markets at this time of year. Due to timing, we acknowledge that there may be a need to renew our current use permit at a commercial kitchen in Southampton. We may also reserve both kitchen spaces for a time during this transition.Purchase additional equipment and install in new space over time (April 2024 - May 2027)It is anticipated that additional equipment may be installed over time, other than the basic elements of the community kitchen. Additionally, we acknowledge the potential for delays related to permitting and construction. As such, we have leveraged the full 4-year grant term for these expenditures.