Green Guru Network

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County is a Recipient of Two Fresh Connect Grants

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County is a recipient of two Fresh Connect Grants awarded by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The governor announced the awards, aimed at providing local solutions to improve access to fresh, healthy food, on May 2, 2012.

Each of the two local projects awarded will focus on increasing the availability of healthy food in mid-town Kingston, a goal of both of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work & Play (CHP), and Healthy Kingston for Kids (HKK) projects. These programs are aimed at fighting obesity and type 2 diabetes through policy, environmental and systems change.

Cornell Cooperative Extension staff will be working with the Kingston Farmer’s Market to introduce a mid-town Farmer’s Market.  In addition, both organizations are working together to introduce fresh produce in corner stores in mid-town.  Cooking demonstrations, recipe cards for seasonal produce and nutrition education will be provided.

The HKK and CHP “Healthy Foods Task Force” have identified food deserts in the City of Kingston with the help of BOCES New Visions students who surveyed corner stores, gas stations, drug stores and supermarkets to see what kind of food was available for sale, and whether or not Food Stamps and WIC were accepted by each vendor.  The Task Force then identified a plan of action to address the residents’ need with the top priority given to lower income and Spanish speaking populations in the mid-town area.  The Fresh Connect projects will provide healthy food options for everyone in mid-town, and will create new economic opportunities for farmers.

Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work & Play, a CCEUC program is funded by the New York State Department of Health. The project is aimed at fighting obesity and type 2 diabetes through policy, environment and systems change. The present focus is on Ellenville, Kingston, Phoenicia and Saugerties.  Initiatives include: Complete Streets, Draft Recreation Plan for Kingston, Community Gardens, Healthy Foods, Healthier Restaurants, Healthy After School Snacks, Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment in Child Care Centers (NAPSACC), Use Your Parks in the City of Kingston, and Let’s Move Ulster. Project Partners include, the Ulster County Department of Health, City of Kingston Parks and Recreation, Community Heart Health Coalition, and Gilmour Planning, LLC.

Healthy Kingston for Kids, a CCEUC program is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The project is aimed at reversing childhood obesity in the City of Kingston.  Initiative includes Complete Streets, Safe Routes to Schools, Healthy After School Snacks, Community and School Gardens, and the Junior Common Council. Project Partners include the City of Kingston Parks and Recreation, Community Heart Health Coalition, Family of Woodstock’s  Kingston Cares, Gilmour Planning, LLC and the Kingston Land Trust.

For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s community programs and events visit our online calendar at www.cceulster.org. Follow us on www.facebook.com. CCEUC provides equal program and employment opportunities. Please contact the CCEUC office at 845-340-3990 if you have any special needs.