Dutchess County Fair Food Vendors Donate Over 1,800 Pounds Of Food Through FeedHV

In its fourth year of rescuing food at the conclusion of the Dutchess County Fair, the FeedHV community food network gathered 1,810 pounds of donations from 38 fair food vendors as they closed on August 24. Since 2022, the initiative has been a joint effort between Red Hook Responds and FeedHV to collect viable food products which are then directed to area food assistance programs.

Administered by Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC), FeedHV is a regional food rescue and harvesting network operating throughout Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Columbia, Greene, Putnam and Sullivan counties. It links donors of prepared, but unserved, food and fresh produce with nonprofits and food assistance programs. Through an app-assisted network of food donors, volunteers and feeding agencies, FeedHV facilitates the harvesting, processing and distribution of locally grown or produced agricultural products, shelf-stable food donations and prepared nutritious foods. Among the donors are restaurants, farms, food makers, summer camps, stores, hotels, schools and universities – and unique opportunities such as the Dutchess County Fair and Ulster County Fair. The food assistance programs include food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

At the conclusion of the fair on Sunday, August 24, 16 volunteers from the combined Red Hook Responds and FeedHV volunteer teams, joined by the Beck family of Kevin W. Beck Contracting fanned out across the fairgrounds to collect excess viable food from vendors. Moving through the fair with a golf cart (courtesy of the Beck family), trays and bags, they visited vendors who had been canvassed earlier in the evening and indicated that they may have donations.

To help streamline the gathering process this year, volunteers were divided into teams, each with a leader who could escort the group to the pre-determined vendor locations. Leaders were in communication with each other to coordinate inventory and vehicle resources. Red Hook Responds contributed a cooler trailer so the donations could be stored on-site while collections continued.

According to Isabella Kemp, FeedHV Coordinator who worked to organize the volunteers and line up feeding agency recipients, the new system “was a very efficient process, having five different groups assigned to each section of the fair, so we were able to make sure we didn't miss any food vendors. This was thanks to Michael Ferrante and the team at Red Hook Responds who helped lead the volunteer effort, directing the food from vendor to trailer.”

“It's truly a moving experience to see so many concessioners, volunteers, and fair employees work so hard to ensure that food doesn't go to waste. The generosity of everyone involved is a clear indicator of the strength of community in Dutchess County,” said Michael Ferrante, Executive Director, Red Hook Responds.

Red Hook Responds held the food overnight in cold storage and was able to use some of the donations for its distributions. The next morning receiving agencies Darmstadt Shelter, Hyde Park Food Pantry, El Camino Al Exito and Willow Roots picked up the remainder for their food assistance programs.

In all, 38 Dutchess County Fair vendors made donations this year, which included various produce (lettuce, potatoes, lemons, limes, tomatoes, onions, Jalapenos, cucumbers, and celery), prepared foods such as shredded empanadas, funnel caked, chicken, sausages and pizza, as well as bread, hamburger and hot dog buns.

“We’ve been building this rescue initiative with the Dutchess County Fair for four years, and it has grown every year from 20 vendors and 710 pounds to the impressive numbers that we hit this year. Since we began in 2022, the collection at the fair has now topped 5,200 pounds,” said Mary Ann Johnson, Deputy Director, HVADC.

“This is a concerted, team effort, that couldn’t have been accomplished successfully without the volunteers from Red Hook Responds, individual volunteers, and FeedHV. Ultimately, I believe we need to put the praise on the concessionaires for going the extra mile to donate food to feed those in need, in our community. Many of these vendors do not live in the Hudson Valley or even have ties to it, other than participating in our beloved fair every year. For them to take the time, at the end of an exhausting week, to put together a donation, speaks to the fair community and fair industry,” said Jenny Lang, Vendor, Concessions and Sponsorships Manager at the Dutchess County Fair.

“In addition to our volunteer efforts, the success of the event is reliant upon the commitment the Dutchess County Fair staff and vendors who have all always been very supportive. This type of food rescue event with a short time window at the time the fair closing requires coordination and a real dedication to save food for those in need. We cannot thank all who participated enough for the work they did as the fair ended, and made this a success once again,” said Johnson.

To learn more about FeedHV, its donor and volunteer programs, visit www.feedhv.org. To become a food donor, receiving agency or volunteer, contact info@feedhv.org. To make a monetary donation to FeedHV, visit https://www.feedhv.org/donate-today.

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About FeedHV: Since 2017, FeedHV has been operating as a regional food rescue and harvesting network in New York’s Hudson Valley, linking donors of prepared but unserved food and fresh produce to nonprofits with food assistance programs. The program is administered by Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation (HVADC). For additional information, visit www.feedhv.org.

About Red Hook Responds: Red Hook Responds coordinates, enhances and supports the existing and new volunteer efforts in the Red Hook area. It harnesses volunteers in a centralized location where people work together to maximize the programs already in place. Among its many food assistance program, it operates a food exchange, connecting local farms with pantries, processes food for distribution to agencies, operates Red Hook Eats, a dinner delivery service for its neighbors and offers a pantry bag program for those in need. www.redhookresponds.org.

About The Dutchess County Fair: The Fair is produced by the Dutchess County Agricultural Society Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to showcase, promote and sustain agriculture through education, display, competition and community involvement. Its vision is a society actively engaged in the pursuit and promotion of our rural and agricultural heritage, from neighborhood back yards to family farms and commercial enterprises. Today, the largest agricultural 6-day fair in New York State has a physical plant that is recognized as one of the most beautiful in the country, featuring over 1,000 individual exhibitors showcasing everything from cows, horses, pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats to jams, jellies, quilts and fine arts for the Dutchess County Fair. The Fair will celebrate its 180th anniversary in 2026. www.dutchessfair.com