Food from small-scale family farms is often more expensive than food at chain grocery stores, putting it out of reach for many Adirondack families. It is also more sustainable, ethical, and better for our local economy. We are working towards a future in which Adirondack farmers can feed the region and local families can afford to buy local food by providing funding to purchase farm fresh products for qualifying families.
The Fair Food project began in 2020, when AdkAction partnered with the then–Hub on the Hill (now Essex Food Hub) to deliver Emergency Food Packages during the COVID-19 crisis. Thousands of families received fresh, local food while Adirondack farmers gained a vital sales outlet.
Recognizing the need for a lasting solution, AdkAction launched the Fair Food project in 2021 to help households who earn too much to qualify for traditional food assistance but still struggle to afford healthy meals. Through Fair Food Cards—prepaid cards redeemable at local farmstands, farmers’ markets, and participating producers—families can choose the foods that fit their needs while directly supporting area farmers.
Today, we work with partner organizations to identify qualifying families and distribute cards equitably, ensuring that more Adirondack households can enjoy fresh, local food year-round.
At the start of 2026, AdkAction changed how the Fair Food Card project reaches families across the North Country. Instead of enrolling participants directly, we partner with Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offices in Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, Franklin, and St. Lawrence Counties to support low-income families of young children.
The Keeseville Community Garden was established in 2021 by AdkAction’s Tom Boothe Adirondack Intern, Kim Gonzales, to create a welcoming space where residents could learn to grow food, participate in educational workshops, and experience gardening in a shared, low-risk environment. Located in downtown Keeseville, the garden remains uniquely accessible to
Across the Adirondacks, small grocery stores do important work. They keep communities fed, connect neighbors, and make it possible for people to live in places that might otherwise lose access to fresh, healthy food. Many of these stores operate on slim margins, so even small equipment upgrades can be out
