Foodlink and Wegmans have worked together to address hunger in our communities for nearly 50 years, but the partnership took a unique turn earlier this month.
Wegmans usually supplies the food (millions of pounds of it, every year) … but this time, Foodlink took on the role of supplier.
Starter plants grown at the Foodlink Community Farm (585 Lexington Ave.) were distributed and sold in three local Wegmans stores — Pittsford, Mt. Read & East Ave. — in the week leading up to Mother’s Day. The tomato, cucumber and pepper plants will remain on sale ($4.99) through July 4, with all proceeds benefitting our Farm programming.
The project would not have been possible without the significant investment and upgrades this past year at the farm, which included the construction of a 20,000-foot greenhouse. Foodlink’s staff made use of the space for increased growing opportunities through the winter and early spring.
The farm also is now host to near-daily field trips by Rochester City School District third-graders, who learn about nature, nutrition and food through a curriculum developed in partnership with Rochester Ecology Partners. To date, more than 20 field trips have taken place at the farm since March.
