About

Our Mission

The Food & Health Network (FaHN) is an eight-county coalition of diverse stakeholders working to build food-secure communities and a thriving, healthy, regional food system through collaboration. The Food and Health Network is a program of the nonprofit Rural Health Network of South Central NY, whose mission is to advance the health and wellbeing of rural people and communities.

FaHN supports programs and policies that bridge connections between local agriculture, food access and healthcare so that all community members have access to nutritious food and local farms and businesses remain viable for many years to come.

Our network takes an interdisciplinary, systematic, and regional approach to impact South Central New York’s food system.

2019 YEAR IN REVIEW      2018 YEAR IN REVIEW     2017 YEAR IN REVIEW 2016 YEAR IN REVIEW

“Working with the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program has given me hands-on knowledge of the impact food security has on everyday lives. Participants have expressed a combination of relief and gratitude in being able to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for themselves and their family members.”

Rachel Mischler
Registered Dietitian, Lourdes Hospital

“The Farm to School program has the potential to provide far reaching positive benefits to the community, local farms, and most importantly higher nutritional food to the students for improved health, growth, and learning.”

Mike Harris
Owner of Lone Maple Farm & farm to school partner

“Meeting hunger needs is a large task and cannot be done alone. Working in collaboration with the Food & Health Network, Tioga Opportunities, Inc. and the Tioga County Anti-Hunger Task Force have made recognizable strides in increasing participation at free summer meal sites for kids. FaHN’s committed and knowledgeable staff, have been a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with, new, impactful, initiatives!”

Andrew Hafer
Community Services Director, Tioga Opportunities, Inc.

“We really enjoy supporting different groups that help us accomplish one of our core-founding missions: To have our food be accessible to everyone that wants it. Working with the Food & Health Network is really great because it helps us reach more people and support the local food system in general.”

Stephanie Roberts
Shared Roots Farm, McGraw, NY

“Broome-Tioga BOCES Foodservices Rock on Café has seen tremendous growth in our Farm to School efforts with our very strong working relationship with the Food and Health Network of South Central New York. This partnership, which we value tremendously, is bringing the farm, farm products and agricultural education to students. Not only are we able to increase the nutritional content of the food we serve, but we’re also directly impacting the local economy.”

Ray Denniston
Special Project Coordinator for Foodservice, Broome-Tioga BOCES

Our Impact

16,725
Students reached through local food in school meals and farm to school education

786,201
Pounds of local food served in school meals

$651,178
Spent on food from 13 local farms, food hubs, and processors

Growing Farm to School

Now proudly serving 26 school districts throughout South Central New York
Since 2017, we have helped establish:

 

  • 26
    Different kinds of New York State fruits and vegetables featured in school meals
  • 47
    Taste tests with over 6,000 students
  • 28
    New recipes utilizing local ingredients across 16 schools
  • 13
    Unique partnerships with New York farmers and vendors

Building Volunteer Capacity

  • 200+
    Volunteers recruited to support programs that increase access to nutritious food in Broome, Tioga, and Otsego Counties
  • 3
    Community cafes held in Binghamton and Johnson City
  • 3
    Poverty simulations hosted at Binghamton University

Building Volunteer Capacity

  • 200+
    Volunteers recruited to support programs that increase access to nutritious food in Broome, Tioga, and Otsego Counties
  • 3
    Community cafes held in Binghamton and Johnson City
  • 3
    Poverty simulations hosted at Binghamton University

Linking Food Access and Healthcare Innovation

  • 80
    Individuals completed the FVRx program
  • $16,000
    Spent on local food
  • 12
    participating primary care offices

Get Involved Today

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