GrowNYC's Hurricane Relief Distributes $100,000+ to Regional Farmers

April 23, 2012
Posted in Greenmarket | Tagged relief

GrowNYC is pleased to announce that $100,862 in donated funds has been distributed to regional farmers who were hit hardest by last summer’s storms. When Tropical Storms Irene and Lee severely impacted 80% of Greenmarket producers last September, our community rallied together to help overcome the damage that was wrought. Greenmarket customers held benefit potlucks, concerts and after-work parties; a group of food writers organized the successful Dine Out Irene in which over one hundred restaurants donated a percentage of their sales from a Sunday in late September; instead of a wedding registry, a woman asked her friends and family to make donations to farmers, and close to $5,000 was raised by customers who opened their pocketbooks at Greenmarkets around the city to make donations directly to the GrowNYC Hurricane Relief Fund. "The generosity that Greenmarket shoppers showed during this time of need is proof of the valuable relationships that develop between farmers and customers at market,” says GrowNYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen. “While these storms had less of an impact on the city, New Yorkers felt the gravity of the situation through their rural neighbors and friends who sell at Greenmarket." One hundred percent of all funds raised by GrowNYC for Hurricane Relief were given directly to farmers. The funds were distributed based on need in two waves of grants—one in December and one in March. Recipients report that these resources have helped them overcome last September’s losses, and get a good start on the new season. In addition to repairing flood-damaged machinery and barns, farmers have used their grants to purchase seeds, laying hens, truck parts, pay fuel bills, and much more. "I could have pulled any number of other bills from the stack of need last fall," said Richard Giles of Lucky Dog Farm, explaining how he spent his relief check from GrowNYC. The bills paid by the Hurricane Relief Fund covered "Vegetable twist ties, a power bill, a seed bill, one for truck tires, another for truck parts, and one for potting soil. I am so thankful to Greenmarket for coordinating this wonderful support." With this assistance, Lucky Dog was able to continue selling at the Fort Greene and Union Square Greenmarkets through the winter, and is now launching into the 2012 growing season. “Greenmarket is our survival plan,” said Giles.

Greenmarket Farmers Receive Hurricane Relief Funds

January 31, 2012
Posted in Greenmarket | Tagged relief

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee and the destruction caused by flooding throughout our farming region, GrowNYC and Greenmarket reached out to our community of support with the goal of raising funds to support assist the most impacted Greenmarket Farmers.

Immediately upon launching this campaign the public responded in such force that we were completely blown away: financial donations, offers of in-kind support to assist with on-farm clean up, as well as professional services, ranging from legal work to marketing support started pouring in. We are thrilled to have raised a total of $85,000 to date (January 2012); Thank you.

On November 22, 2011 our first round of Greenmarket Relief Fund Awardees were announced. $63,000 was distributed to 29 farmers. In February 2012 all remaining funds will be distributed among this group. The following list of farmers and we at GrowNYC and Greenmarket are incredibly grateful for your incredible generosity and will be, in part, continuing farming, in part, because of it. Your contributions will allow farmers such as Alex Paffenroth to pay contractors to remove debris from ditches, Kira Kinney to purchase seeds for the 2012 growing season, John Gorzynski to pay for tractor repairs, and Gary Glowaczewski’s fuel bills. The list goes on: fence repairs, greenhouse supplies, animal feed, new chickens, and much much more.

GrowNYC and Greenmarket staff are truly heartened by your support, and we thank you for supporting our farmers not only during times of crisis, but every week at your neighborhood market.

Greenmarket Relief Fund Awardees:

Troncillito Farms
The River Garden
Monkshood Nursery
Tamarack Hollow Farm
Rogowski Farm
NFDP Staten Island Family Farm
NFDP Conuco Farms
Lucky Dog Farm
Bradley Farms
J Glebocki Farms LLC
Morgiewicz Produce
Paffenroth Gardens
Gorzynski Ornery Farm
J & A Farm
D`Attolico's Organic Farm

Evolutionary Organics
John D Madura Farm
Tundra Brewery
Nine-Jay Nurseries
Muddy River Farm LLC
R & G Produce LLC
NFDP Jersey Farm Produce
NFDP R&R Produce
NFDP Mimomex Farm
NFDP El Mirador Farm
NFDP Fresh Radish Farm
NFDP Gonzalez Farm
NFDP Perez Market
NFDP Pavia Family Farm

Edible's Queens Uncorked Hurricane Relief Benefit

October 19, 2011
Posted in Greenmarket | Tagged queens, relief

GrowNYC is thrilled to announce that it will be the beneficiary of Edible Queens' Queens Uncorked, a local wine and food event pairing Long Island wine with Queens restaurants and food artisans. The event, Wednesday, November 2 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, will features 3 hours of local wining and dining at Long Island City's coolest event location, The Foundry.

Proceeds of the event will go specifically to local farmers who've been severely impacted by Hurricane Irene. Greenmarket farmer Gary Glowaczewsk, who lost most of his crops in the storm, will be in attendance at the event.

Buy a ticket to Queens Uncorked!

Chamber Players International Concert to Benefit GrowNYC's Hurricane Relief Fund

October 14, 2011
Posted in Greenmarket | Tagged relief

Friday, October 21, 7 p.m.
Chamber Players International Concert to Benefit GrowNYC's Hurricane Relief Fund
The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space
44 Charlton Street, Manhattan [map]
Tickets: $25 online and at the door

Chamber Players International present a benefit concert event for GrowNYC’s Greenmarket farmers. The program features works by Beethoven and a world premier by guest artist Reinhard Seehafer, internationally renowned composer and symphony conductor. The ensemble consists of world class, award-winning performers including violinist Anna Rabinova, member of the New York Philharmonic and winner of the Leipzig and Belgrade International Violin Competitions. 100% of the proceeds generated by the concert will be donated to the recovery fund to help GrowNYC’s Greenmarket farmers who were severely impacted by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in early September.

Buy tickets.

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