Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Awards Over $1 Million in Farm Fresh Food Grants

The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) has committed more than $1 million over the next three years to strengthening food security across the region through its Farm Fresh Food Grant initiative. Made possible with support from the NoVo Foundation, along with contributions from other funders, the initiative will provide annual grants totaling $350,000 to 28 organizations working to expand access to healthy food throughout the Hudson Valley.

The grants will support a wide range of efforts, including partnerships between farms and food pantries, fresh produce production and distribution, meal delivery for seniors and individuals undergoing cancer treatment, nutrition education and hands-on agricultural learning opportunities for students.

“Healthy food is essential to healthy communities,” said Laura Washington, president and CEO of CFHV. “These grants invest in organizations that are addressing immediate needs while building stronger, more resilient local food systems. By supporting partnerships among farmers, food pantries, schools and community organizations, we're helping ensure more of our neighbors have reliable access to fresh, nutritious food."

The Farm Fresh Food program has grown into a comprehensive regional effort to strengthen food access and build a more resilient local food system. Since its inception in 2013, more than $5.4 million has been distributed to 54 organizations, but its impact extends far beyond these grants. The program also supports innovative efforts that reduce food waste and strengthen the regional food systems,  including FeedHV, the Chowmatch app, and the Food Systems Coalition. 

This latest round of funding builds on CFHV's long-standing commitment to food security across the Hudson Valley. That commitment was affirmed by findings from the foundation's 2025 "Voices of the Hudson Valley" report, which identified food assistance organizations as among the most valued community resources and highlighted growing demand for the services they provide. According to the report, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley distributed 54 million pounds of food in 2024, compared with 38.8 million pounds in 2018 — an increase of approximately 45 percent. 

Grant recipients include Angel Food East; Camino al Exito Project for All; Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster; Common Ground Farm; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County; Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County; Dutchess Outreach; Family of Woodstock, Inc.; Glynwood; Grannies Respond/Abuelas Responden; Hillside Food Outreach; Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative; Kingston YMCA Farm Project; Newburgh Urban Farm and Food; North East Community Center; Pawling Resource Center; Phillies Bridge Farm Project, Inc.; Poughkeepsie Farm Project; Red Hook Responds; Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York; Rondout Valley Food Pantry Inc.; Scenic Hudson, Inc.; Second Chance Foods; Sky High Farm; Sparrow's Nest of the Hudson Valley; St. Thomas Episcopal Church Amenia Union NY; Stonewood Community Project Inc. and Ulster Immigrant Defense Network, Inc.