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QUEENS WEEKLY, DECEMBER 29, 2019
‘THIS IS BIG NEWS’
Queens County Farm announces 1.6-acre expansion to bring more food ‘from farm to fork’
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Food’s journey from
farm to fork is about to get
shorter following Queens
County Farm’s newly announced
1.6-acre expansion.
On Dec. 17, the New
York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets
confirmed that nearly two
acres of land would undergo
restoration at the Floral
Park farm, which would
increase the crop-growing
area by more than 30
percent.
The development,
spearheaded by Councilman
Barry Grodenchik,
will aid one of New York
State’s longest continuously
operating farms in
bringing more fresh produce
to hungry residents.
“New York City residents
are fortunate to have
the Queens County Farm
in the middle of a city of
nearly 10 million people,”
said NYSDAM Commissioner
Richard A. Ball.
“The farm is a treasure
and a testament to New
York State’s appreciation
of its agricultural heritage.
A lot of our work at
the Department is about
connecting the dots between
our farm communities
and our urban centers.
This farm is proof that urban
farming plays a major
role in driving New York’s
economy and enhancing
the quality of life for its
residents.”
The nonprofit organization
and the New York State
Office of Mental health,
which owns the property,
reached an agreement
to lease the land for crop
production. According to
Queens County Farm Museum
Executive Director
Jennifer Walden Weprin,
the planned growth enables
them to expand crop
production to include more
variety including garlic,
potatoes, winter squash,
sweet potatoes and corn.
Weprin joined Commissioner
Ball, Assemblyman
David Weprin,
Councilman Grodenchik
and members of John
Bowne High School’s FFA
chapter for the Dec. 17
announcement.
Since its inception, the
Adriance family farmed
the original site for over
100 years and through five
generations. Four subsequent
owners continued to
farm the land until real estate
investor, Pauline Reisman,
bought the land in
1926 and turned it over to
the state. The state-owned
Creedmoor Hospital continued
the farming tradition
for produce and other
plants.
Once Creedmore announced
plans to sell the
property, community
members collaborated to
save the farm and establish
the Queens County
Farm Museum in 1975.
“This is big news for
Queens Farm. This land
leased to us by the State
was part of the farm’s
original footprint in 1697.
This expansion supports
the farm’s planned growth
and will help enable us to
broaden our reach so we
can serve more people in
need of fresh produce in
our communities,” said
Weprin.
The land is located just
behind the soccer fields on
the premises. To prepare
for the upcoming expansion,
Weprin said that they
need to install a gate between
the existing fences
and get a tractor to even
out the road area.
Additionally, farm employees
will observe the
property for one season to
observe what organically
grows on the land and how
best to maintain it.
The farm hosts an average
of 400,000 visitors,
100,000 of which are students,
each year. Since
1975, Queens County Farm
has welcomed nearly 10
million visitors to learn
about the nearly 14,000
pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables,
herbs and flowers
as well as the 270 farm
animals on site.
“The Office of Mental
Health is delighted to provide
Queens County Farm
Museum with the space it
needs to expand crop production
and bring more
produce to kitchen tables
in Queens. Food scarcity
is a critical social determinant
of mental health and
we are happy to support
any effort that combats
its effects,” said NYSOMH
Commissioner Dr. Ann
Sullivan.
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone
at (718) 260-2583.
From left: Councilman Barry Grodenchik, Queens County Farm Museum Executive Director Jennifer Walden Weprin, New York
State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball, and Assemblyman David Weprin.
Photo by Jenna Bagcal/QNS
ASTORIA TIMES ■ BAYSIDE TIMES
FLUSHING TIMES ■ FOREST HILLS LEDGER
FRESH MEADOWS TIMES
JACKSON HEIGHTS TIMES ■ JAMAICA TIMES
LAURELTON TIMES ■ LITTLE NECK LEDGER
QUEENS VILLAGE TIMES ■ RIDGEWOOD LEDGER
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