The Hudson Valley is known for its diversity of abundant, high-quality fresh food. Small-acreage meat producers, dairies, and vegetable farmers flourish in the countryside—and yet the economics of farm-to-table often hit a snag in the middle ground, where sellers and buyers meet.
For farmers, sustainable agriculture often does not equate to a sustainable business.
Linda and James Quella know this firsthand. Linda has a background in finance and worked in the city for many years, while also running Q Farms in Sharon, where she and James raised chickens, pork, and beef. She sold the meat from a small farmstand on the property—and she found that local buyers were not consistent shoppers, and started selling in the NYC Greenmarkets, where customers can generally afford the higher prices.
But what about low- and middle-income residents of the communities where the food is grown? For some customers having access to good food, and being able to afford it are not the same thing. The Quellas decided to close their farm, and redirect their energies to solving this basic conundrum.
They founded Tri-Corner F.E.E.D., a nonprofit focused on food sovereignty, community advocacy, and their biggest initiative, Tri-Corner F.E.E.D. Market—which is set to open in Millerton in June. Blake Myers, director of food programs for Tri-Corner F.E.E.D., says, “The goal is to create more markets for farmers, and make locally grown food more accessible through community support.”
It’s an issue that’s close to her heart. Myers grew up on a family farm north of Springfield, Ill., that produced corn and soybeans. After a career in modeling that took her around the world, she met her partner in New York City and, just before the pandemic, they bought a house in Amenia, near where her partner was raised.
“Farming in the Midwest is very much a family business, but big agriculture tends to take over,” she says. Working with Tri-Corner F.E.E.D. gives her a chance to have an impact at the grass-roots level.
“Last summer, we ran a pilot program at Millerton’s North East Community Center, selling some grains and staples, meat, dairy, and veggies, on a sliding scale. Customers who can afford to pay full price compensate the farmer with a fair price, while allowing more community members to afford healthy, home-grown food, which is often out of reach.”
The scale is based on a simple registration form, Myers says. “What is their food budget? What do they usually pay? What works best for them? It’s not an automated system, it’s a personal system. It’s not intrusive. We want to make food affordable.”
Tri-Corner F.E.E.D. Market will be supporting more than 30 farms across the Tristate area, including Dutchess County-based farms Full Circus, Chaseholm, Rock Steady and Little Forest; in Litchfield County, farms include Tory Hill in Salisbury and ADAMAH in Falls Village.
Located at 56 South Center St. in Millerton, the official opening was planned for late June.
By Tara Kelly
Photos by John Verner