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24 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • JULY 23, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM �� 718.634.1500 2020 “Grown on LI” Farmers Market Supports Local Agriculture New Partnerships Bring Local Food to New York City and Nassau County Queens County Farm Museum has partnered for the first time with Long Island Farm Bureau Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County to host Grown on LI Farmers Market. Grown on LI Farmers Market will debut on July 25 & July 26 and August 1 & August 2 to promote local farmers and producers. Grown on LI will connect Long Island and NYC residents with local farmers on the East End. This program was developed to strengthen the connections between consumers and the lifecycle of locally grown food. The first Grown on LI Farmers Market is scheduled on Saturday, July 25th and Saturday, August 1st at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County and the second market is scheduled on Sunday, July 26th and Sunday, August 2nd at the Queens County Farm Museum from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at each location. These events are rain or shine. Parking will be available at both locations and no entry fees are required. There are 550 agricultural operations on Long Island which produce a vast and diversified crop of local food and products. Grown on LI Farmers Market offers a great opportunity for consumers to personally connect with the farmers and producers and learn about the many delicious foods that are made locally. These markets can help create relationships and new connections for consumers to buy their own food directly from producers. The COVID-19 health crisis exposed many issues related to food insecurity and to the food distribution system in our community from shortages of food in the initial days of the crisis to long term supply chain issues. An interruption to the food distribution chain has repercussions not just on the community’s ability to buy food but can trigger an economic crisis. “We are excited to join forces with the Queens Farm and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau to bring this farm market event to the residents of Nassau and Queens. Long Island farms produce an impeccably high quality and diversity of agricultural goods. We hope consumers take advantage of this opportunity to learn from and shop with their neighboring East End farmers,” said Rob Carpenter, Administrative Director of LI Farm Bureau. “I am thrilled to introduce more farmers directly to New York City,” noted Jennifer Walden Weprin, Executive Director of the Queens County Farm Museum. “Queens Farm actively works to shorten the distance from farm to fork and this new partnership helps us achieve that goal. Local food is delicious and reduces our carbon footprint. It’s nice to meet the people that grow your food. I would also like to thank New York State Agriculture Commissioner Ball and Governor Cuomo for their support.” The Saturday Grown on LI Markets will be held at Eisenhower Park next to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Nassau County Headquarters located at Field 8, Park Blvd, in East Meadow on July 25thand August 1st.. The Sunday Grown on LI Markets will take place on July 26th and August 2nd at the Queens County Farm Museum located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. Both markets will host up to 10 vendors focusing on local foods grown on Long Island farms featuring fruits, vegetables, craft beverages, flowers along with value-added products. A complete list of vendors can be found at queensfarm.org. CDC Guidelines for public health safety related to COVID-19 will be strictly enforced. Face coverings and appropriate social distancing will be required. �� nysilvergull.com 718.634.2500 nybreezypoint.com �� /nysilvergull.com /queensfarm.org /WWW.QNS.COM /nybreezypoint.com