The city of Dunkirk was one of 11 farmers’ market organizations to receive funding from New York state.

Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced that $700,000 has been awarded through the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program. Funding for the program was included in the 2023 Enacted Budget and is a part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2023 State of the State commitment to New York’s agricultural industry and to increase the resiliency of the state’s food supply chain following COVID-19.

“One of the biggest lessons that we learned from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of having a strong, flexible, and streamlined local food supply chain, and one of the greatest tools we have for getting farm-fresh food directly into our communities are farmers’ markets,” Ball said. “The Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program provides farmers’ markets with funding that will help them reach more consumers in new, innovative ways, build greater bonds between farmers and their customers, and get more local New York foods onto tables across the state.”

Funding for the city is to construct a permanent pavilion structure for the market, which is held at Ruggles Street and Cliffstar Court. This year’s city market gets underway in June.

Farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets are crucial components to a healthy food system. Today, New York has more than 400 farmers’ markets, 250 farm stands, and 10 mobile markets. They provide outlets for agricultural producers to meet the rising consumer demand for a variety of fresh, affordable, and convenient products grown directly from the farm. New York State–through the Department of Agriculture and Markets, Department of Health, Office for the Aging, and Office of Temporary Disability Assistance–administers several programs that help low-income families, seniors, and Veterans access fresh, healthy food at participating markets. For more information on the Department’s programs, such as the FreshConnect and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/farmersmarkets.