The results of a newly formed partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County, Dundee Fresh Grocery, and the Dundee Baptist Church have surpassed all expectations. Extension’s Interim Director Jen Clancey tells why the three entities joined up together.
“We received a grant from the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority in the Spring to provide a weekly fresh produce distribution to the village of Dundee for any school district resident,” said Clancey. In the summer, we were just getting applications out and starting to get registrations in and were hoping to get maybe 30, 40, or 50 registrants in.”
But Clancey said the response they got was nothing they envisioned.
“During the eight weeks of the program, which started in late July, 449 Dundee residents took part throughout the whole process. It was a huge success”
Clancey said due to the overwhelming response, they worked with the village of Dundee to set up a new distribution point at the Village Barns on Spring Street. Participants who signed up could choose if they wanted to participate on a weekly basis depending on the produce that was offered.
Clancey said everything that Dundee residents purchased was grown locally.
“All of the produce was purchased through the Finger Lakes Produce Auction so we were able to support a local business and local farmers, which was the purpose of the grant,’ added Clancey.
