Adirondack Harvest is a community organization formed out of concern for the loss and abandonment of farmland in the Adirondacks. Members realized that to keep local food available and to preserve the scenic vistas that farmland provides, farming needs to be profitable. Founding members also had a strong commitment to sustainable farms and wanted to ensure that farm-fresh food is available. To that end, we promote the goods and services of our members while operating as a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County.
Since its inception in 2001, Adirondack Harvest has grown to encompass Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, St. Lawrence, Lewis and Jefferson counties in northeastern New York. These counties contain major sections of the Adirondack Park and the Champlain Valley. Other portions of counties located within the Adirondack Park are also participating members including Herkimer, Oneida, Saratoga and Washington.
Our focus has been on expanding markets for local farm products so that consumers have more choice of fresh farm products and on assisting farmers to increase sustainable production to meet the expanding markets.
Mission Statement:
We envision a picturesque and productive working landscape connecting local farmers to their communities and regional markets.
Our goals are to increase opportunities for profitable, sustainable production and sale of high quality food and agricultural products, and to expand consumer choices for locally produced healthy food.
This mission ensures the future preservation and growth of our open farmland while providing a diversity of healthy food products for consumers.
Our Work
Promoting agriculture and forestry products in the Adirondack region
Our branded platform features the most comprehensive, current local business guide for the Adirondack region. We boost the efforts of our regional agriculture and forestry producers to help increase the number of people buying locally produced food and products. We do so through weekly email newsletters, social media, advertising, media partnerships, and storytelling, reaching over 2 million people each year!
Helping connect people and farms
We host the most comprehensive database of farmers’ markets, farmstands and retail locations offering locally grown food and products in the Adirondack region, including up-to-date information on nutrition incentive programs like SNAP, FMNP and Double Up Food Bucks. Over 50k people utilize our online and print local food guides and calendars each year! Through these resources, we strive to make local food easier to access, creating a strong sense of place for all community members.
Connecting kids with local food
Essex County Cornell Cooperative Extension programs, such as Adirondack Harvest and Farm to School, provide opportunities for kids and families to connect with local farmers, taste local foods, and engage in hands-on Ag and STEM activities. The Power of Produce Club (POP) brings new activities to area farmers’ markets each week, while giving kids the chance to buy $5 of produce of their choice. Farm to School has engaged over 8,000 local kids through school gardens, farm visits, cafeteria taste tests and more!
Bringing farms to restaurant tables
We work to increase the number of area restaurants purchasing locally grown food. Our wholesale database, Farm to Chef Meet & Greet event, and monthly local food wholesale email newsletter aim to connect chefs, restaurant owners, staff, and management with farmers to highlight the benefits of, and resources for, serving local food. Our growing wholesale database of over 25 regional farms is a helpful tool for local businesses to find and buy more local food.
Celebrating local food with our community
Each year we host an Adirondack Harvest Festival that attracts thousands of people from the Northeast. Our last in-person event drew over 3,000 community members and tourists. The festival is an opportunity for residents and regional visitors to connect with the local agricultural community. The festival serves as an awareness campaign, educational opportunity, and networking event for both farmers and consumers.
Our Board of Directors
Teresa Whalen – Warrensburgh Beautification, Inc., representing the southern Adirondack counties
Curtiss Hemm – Carriage House Cooking School, representing consumers
Carol Calabrese – Essex County Industrial Development Agency, representing IDA/tourism
Daniel Rivera (Vice Chair) – Triple Green Jade Farm, representing Essex County
Jane Desotelle (Chair) – Underwood Herbs, representing Clinton County
Robert Barody – Blackberry Hill Farm & Sanctuary, representing farmers
Charlie Harrington – Crown Point town supervisor, representing local government
Roger Hastings – Shady Hill Sheep & Wool Farm, representing Franklin County
David Brunner – Asgaard Farm and Liaison with Cornell Cooperative Extension board
Wynde Kate Reese – Green Goddess Natural Market, representing restaurants & stores
Jeffrey Van Arsdale – Cedar Hedge Farm, representing the western Adirondack counties
