Robust local food systems drive economic growth, reduce food insecurity and contribute to positive community and health outcomes.
Food Systems
ANCA's SOIL Loan Fund provides flexible, zero-interest financing to small farm and food businesses to increase farm stability and food system security.
Bike the Barns is back! What: Bike the Barns When: Saturday, October 8, 2022 Where: Champlain Valley, NY Start/finish: The Hub on the Hill, Essex, NY Registration is open! After a two-year break, Bike the Barns returns on Saturday, October 8 with a farm-by-bike experience featuring the stunning agricultural landscape of the Champlain Valley. Bike the Barns is a fully...
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted some critical stress points in our local food system. To bolster local food security and ensure the resilience and sustainability of our local farms, ANCA provided eight farms and food producers with funding support through our 2020 Local Food System Security Grant program.
ANCA's Local Farm Grant provides seed or refinancing capital to improve farm viability by addressing gaps in the local food supply chain, increasing opportunity for value-added processing or securing business development services.
The Drive for 25 Farm to School Grant works with schools, communities and farmers to build healthy Farm to School programs with strong local food procurement in cafeterias. The program enables school districts in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties to purchase New York State grown and minimally processed food items to serve in K-12 public school meals. During the past...
Working with stakeholders in the Keeseville area, ANCA applied for and received a federal planning assistance award for 2016 called Local Foods, Local Places that is building the momentum around local food by connecting this movement with the broader community and revitalization efforts. The project worked with a wide variety of Keeseville residents, businesses and organizations to integrate existing revitalization...
ANCA works directly with farmers, food entrepreneurs, and not for profit organizations to access funding; develop and integrate infrastructure; and help grow opportunities in the local economy. Projects have included food hub development, supply chain coordination, business startup support, and grant writing assistance. Recently, the USDA awarded ANCA a $95,000 grant to help establish The Hub on the Hill food...
