LOCAL FOOD

Zucchinis growing at Z Farms

New Farm-To-Food-Pantry Program Created by Scarsdale Teen

Anew farm-to-foodto connect many potential pantry program, partners. based at the Pawling “A successful farm-toResource Center, kicked off food-pantry program would last month. The goal of the help to establish partnerships program is to create a network between local family farms of local farms supplying fresh and small food pantries, produce to nearby pantries which would be trementhrough the help of volundously helpful to both parties,” teers. Z Farms, Harlem Valley Zlotnikov says. “Food pantries Homestead, Dykeman Farm and the Community Action Nicole Zlotnikov can recruit and organize their volunteers to help farmers Partnership, in Dover Plains, harvest the crops, glean the were among the first wave of farms and fields after the harvest, cull the recovery food pantries to sign on. bins, glean the farmers markets and deliver

Nicole Zlotnikov, a high school the sourced fresh, local products to their sophomore in Scarsdale, created the prodistribution locations.” gram as part of her Gold Award Girl Scout Small family farms can proactively Project. Now, as its volunteer coordinator, “grow a row” specifically allocated for Zlotnikov enlists the help of individuals donation, relying on the help of volunteers to work on local farms, visit area farmers during harvest and transportation, Zlotmarkets and make deliveries in order to nikov says. They can also invite volunteers get healthy food to their neighbors in need. to glean the fields, cull the bins and glean She says she hopes the program will grow farmers markets.

The goal of the program is to create a network of local farms supplying fresh produce to nearby pantries through the help of volunteers.

“This partnership will strengthen communities, make them more resilient and allow them to cultivate a local, highquality food supply chain,” she says. The project grew out of Zlotnikov’s belief that good nutrition is critical to everyone’s health, and her advocacy for local, organic agriculture that restores ecology and is environmentally friendly.

“I believe that underserved people have the right to have access to fresh, healthy seasonal produce that will help their physical and mental well-being,” she says. “I love gardening and farming, and I go to local nonprofit farms each year during my free time to help them grow and harvest their crops. I have my own small garden at home where I grow fresh herbs and tomatoes each season. In winter I take care of my plants in the small greenhouse at our porch.”

Three years ago, Zlotnikov volunteered to help a local farmer display and sell products at area farmers markets. Last year, as a part of her Silver Award project, she helped establish a nutritional education program, with classes, presentations and cooking workshops, at a local organic farm.

“I felt an immense sense of accomplishment and joy when I witnessed how much attendees were interested and excited to learn the healthy cooking methods that I was teaching them,” she says. “Farming and gardening activity gives me a feeling of connection to the land and to its beauty and bounty. It also gives me hope and a sense of optimism about the future of the planet.”

To volunteer or to learn more, call 917.633.7811, email farmtopantry12@gmail. com or visit FarmToFoodPantry.com/join.

Foodie Guide

CAFES

BREAD ALONE BAKERY 45 Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 845.876.3108 BreadAlone.com/Rhinebeck-cafe CHAKRA BOWLS CAFÉ 33 Arlington Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 845.849.0399 chakraBowlsCafe.com

GOOD CHOICE KITCHEN 147 Main St., Ossining NY 914.266.3003 goodchoicekitchen.com

NELLA’S NUTRI-BAR 2 Maple St., Croton-on-Hudson 914.259.2296 NellasNutriBar.com

THE FREIGHT HOUSE CAFÉ 609 Route 6, Mahopac NY 845.628.1872 thefreighthousecafe.com

COFFEE

COFFEE LABS ROASTERS Order beans online/ship home 7 Main St., Tarrytown, NY 914.332.1479; coffeelabs.com

FARMERS’ MARKETS

GOSSETT’S FARM MARKET & Gossett Brothers Nursery 1202 Rt.35, South Salem, NY 914.763.3001; Gossettnursery.com

HUDSON VALLEY FARMERS MARKET Greig Farm, 223 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, NY 914.474.2404 Facebook.com/ HudsonValleyFarmersMarket.

Eat Well and Be Well with Natural

FOOD

Organic raspberries growing at Z Farms

FARM STORE

Z FARMS ORGANIC Open Every Day. 355 Poplar Hill Rd. Dover Plains, NY 917.319.6414 ZFarmsOrganic.com

FARMS

FABLE: FROM FARM TO TABLE 1311 Kitchawan Rd, Ossining, NY Sat & Sun 9am-4pm FableFoods.com

HARVEST MOON FARM & ORCHARD 130 Hardscrabble Rd North Salem, NY 914.485.1210 HarvestMoonFarmAndOrchard.com

HILLTOP HANOVER FARM & ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER 1271 Hanover St, Yorktown Heights, NY 914.962.2368 HilltopHanoverFarm.org

THREE FEATHERS FARM Grass-fed beef & eggs 371 Smith Ridge Rd, S. Salem 914.533.6529; threefeathers.farm

JUICE

DRINK LIVING JUICE 7(1/2) servings of organic vegetables in one serving of green juice to go. 914.763.6320; DrinkLivingJuice.com MARKETS

BEWIES HOLISTIC MARKET Organic Juice & Smoothie Bar 430 Bedford Rd., Armonk, NY 914.273.9437; Bewies.com

GREENS NATURAL FOODS Briarcliff Manor 97 North State Road Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 914.800.9146 Eastchester 780 White Plains Rd. Scarsdale, NY 10583 914.874.5481 Mt. Kisco 666 Lexington Ave. Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 914.864.1274 Yorktown Heights 12 Triangle Center Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 914.352.6214 GreensNaturalFoods.com

GREEN ORGANIC MARKET 275 S. Central Park Ave. Hartsdale, NY 914.437.5802 FB: GreenOrganicMarket

WHOLE FOODS MARKET 575 Boston Post Rd, Port Chester, NY 914.708.1985 1 Ridge Hill Rd, Yonkers, NY 914.378.8090 110 Bloomingdale Rd, White Plains, NY 914.288.1300 WholeFoodsMarket.com

Gift Certificates available! SPECIALTY FOODS

KONTOULIS FAMILY GROVES Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil 914 217 5689 Kontoulisfamily.com

Kontoulis Family Groves’ Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil

VEGAN

SKINNY BUDDHA ORGANIC KITCHEN 159 Lexington Ave., Mt. Kisco 914.358.1666 MySkinnyBuddha.com

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