Great news! We’ve received a grant from the Adirondack Foundation for $3270 for the Farmacy to do outreach and launch a series of cooking classes this summer. The cooking classes will be aimed at increasing the capacity of residents that receive SNAP and WIC benefits to be able to cook from scratch using ingredients from the Farmacy.

We’ve also been chosen to host a Colgate Fellow this summer. Colgate University chooses a handful of organizations each year to host one of its students for a summer-long fellowship that is fully supported by the university. Colleen Donlan, our Colgate Fellow, will help with the Farmacy project on a full-time basis from June-August. A decent stipend, housing, and transportation will all be covered by Colgate, so we get Colleen’s help at no cost to AdkAction.

The Farmacy’s SNAP application has officially been approved, which means that low-income people receiving government food benefits can purchase fresh local food at the Farmacy using their benefit cards. Dan Bosley, owner of Keeseville Pharmacy, has agreed to go to a wholesale model. Previously, farmers have been selling their products in the store on a consignment basis, meaning they stock products and receive money for what sells, but they also assume the risk and losses for unsold products. Now, the Farmacy will buy products from farmers at wholesale prices and keep profits. This is great for farmers because they are guaranteed to be paid for their goods, whether or not they sell. It’s also good for the Farmacy because it now has the potential to make a profit.