GrowNYC’s New York Food for New York Families project, linked small and mid-sized New York State family farms with neighborhoods in New York City facing high rates of food insecurity. The program was a critical public initiative aimed at fortifying food and agricultural supply chain resiliency across New York State. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), the program was designed around three core objectives:

  • Support Local and Traditionally Disadvantaged Farmers and Producers: By creating and expanding economic opportunities and establishing new marketing channels. The program provided essential support, keeping New York farms financially viable and strengthened the local supply chain by integrating small and mid-sized farms into a reliable distribution network.
  • Broaden Partnerships and Improve Food Access for Underserved Communities: By establishing and expanding collaborations between New York farmers, community-based organizations, and local food networks to guarantee the distribution of no cost fresh, nutritious foods in underserved areas.
  • Equity and Dignity: It ensured equitable procurement and dignified food distribution. Through GrowNYC’s Regional Food Hub, the same high-quality, New York grown produce sold at premium retail outlets reached 25 community organizations across the five boroughs, serving families, seniors, and immigrants in neighborhoods historically excluded from quality food access.

In 2025, the federal government terminated New York State’s LFPA contract, eliminating the sole, critical funding source for the program. The program was forced to shut down in August 2025.

In total, New York Food for New York Families distributed over 1 million pounds of free fresh food, equivalent to more than 833,333 meals. The program demonstrated the profound positive impact of public investment in localized food systems, showcasing GrowNYC’s capacity to simultaneously support local agriculture and address food insecurity with high-quality, culturally relevant food.

Despite funding being cut for this program, GrowNYC raised funds to keep some version of it going. Starting in 2026, Food For Families now serves seven sites across the five boroughs, delivering hundreds of free meals for families in-need weekly.