For much of the past 20 years, organizations such as The Food Empowerment Project have researched the correlation between poverty, access to healthy food and the growing rate of obesity in America. The connection basically looks like this:
In urban neighborhoods where poverty is prevalent, residents have reduced access to grocery stores and other providers of fresh, healthy food. Because households living at or below the poverty line are also less likely to own a car, they lack access to grocery stores in other neighborhoods as well. This sequence leads to the presence of food deserts - geographic areas where residents lack access to fresh and healthy food. A report conducted by the Economic Research Service of the USDA prepared for congress, found that "about 2.3 million people (or 2.2 percent of all U.S. households) live more than one mile away from a supermarket and do not own a car."
Instead of fresh produce, the options available in food deserts generally consist of convenience stores and fast food restaurants. As a result, families living in these neighborhoods have a higher rate of obesity, resulting in a greater risk for illness, and obesity related disease. This in turn leads to further challenges such as increased health care expenses, missed days at work and a greater strain on public assistance programs.
For this reason, the federal government has taken on the issue, with high profile political figures such as Michelle Obama gearing up programs that encourage children and families to eat healthier meals and play outside for at least 60 minutes a day. Local organization also work to solve the issue, for example Capital District Community Gardens works with communities to encourage urban agriculture on vacant lots and even provides veggie mobile service that drives fresh produce into under-served neighborhoods. The Regional Foodbank of Northeast New York works with member agencies in low income neighborhoods to feed the hungriest in our communities. By collecting donated food from retailers, manufacturers, farmers and whole sellers, the Foodbank provides emergency sustenance to approximately 244,400 people in our community every year. But because fresh produce has a relatively short shelf life, providing fruits and vegetables is more difficult. That's where the Patroon Land Farm and Leadership Tech Valley come in.
Through a partnership with the Regional Food Bank, the Patroon Land Farm seeks to fulfill its mission of maintaining the land as a productive farm and to use it's earnings and yield to feed the hungry. The Farm produces mass quantities of high-quality fresh produce – over 650,000 pounds a year – the majority of which is donated to the Regional Food Bank. The secondary purpose of the farm is to provide educational opportunities for the public to learn about the merits of farming, local agriculture and volunteer work.
The 2014 Leadership Tech Valley class project is to install a new drip irrigation system and a high tunnel greenhouse that will help extend the farm’s growing season and enable them to provide even more fresh produce to our community in need. By reaching our fundraising goal of $30,000 and supplying the manpower to install these enhancements at the farm, we hope to help both the Farm and Food Bank fight hunger, poverty and obesity all with one project.
To donate or learn more about our project, please click here.
In urban neighborhoods where poverty is prevalent, residents have reduced access to grocery stores and other providers of fresh, healthy food. Because households living at or below the poverty line are also less likely to own a car, they lack access to grocery stores in other neighborhoods as well. This sequence leads to the presence of food deserts - geographic areas where residents lack access to fresh and healthy food. A report conducted by the Economic Research Service of the USDA prepared for congress, found that "about 2.3 million people (or 2.2 percent of all U.S. households) live more than one mile away from a supermarket and do not own a car."
Instead of fresh produce, the options available in food deserts generally consist of convenience stores and fast food restaurants. As a result, families living in these neighborhoods have a higher rate of obesity, resulting in a greater risk for illness, and obesity related disease. This in turn leads to further challenges such as increased health care expenses, missed days at work and a greater strain on public assistance programs.
For this reason, the federal government has taken on the issue, with high profile political figures such as Michelle Obama gearing up programs that encourage children and families to eat healthier meals and play outside for at least 60 minutes a day. Local organization also work to solve the issue, for example Capital District Community Gardens works with communities to encourage urban agriculture on vacant lots and even provides veggie mobile service that drives fresh produce into under-served neighborhoods. The Regional Foodbank of Northeast New York works with member agencies in low income neighborhoods to feed the hungriest in our communities. By collecting donated food from retailers, manufacturers, farmers and whole sellers, the Foodbank provides emergency sustenance to approximately 244,400 people in our community every year. But because fresh produce has a relatively short shelf life, providing fruits and vegetables is more difficult. That's where the Patroon Land Farm and Leadership Tech Valley come in.
Through a partnership with the Regional Food Bank, the Patroon Land Farm seeks to fulfill its mission of maintaining the land as a productive farm and to use it's earnings and yield to feed the hungry. The Farm produces mass quantities of high-quality fresh produce – over 650,000 pounds a year – the majority of which is donated to the Regional Food Bank. The secondary purpose of the farm is to provide educational opportunities for the public to learn about the merits of farming, local agriculture and volunteer work.
The 2014 Leadership Tech Valley class project is to install a new drip irrigation system and a high tunnel greenhouse that will help extend the farm’s growing season and enable them to provide even more fresh produce to our community in need. By reaching our fundraising goal of $30,000 and supplying the manpower to install these enhancements at the farm, we hope to help both the Farm and Food Bank fight hunger, poverty and obesity all with one project.
To donate or learn more about our project, please click here.