At GrowNYC food distribution events across the city, New Yorkers are able to pick up fresh, locally grown produce for free.

“It may be the only way for some families to receive fresh, sometimes—or most of the time—organic food of high quality that otherwise they wouldn’t be able to afford,” said Eddie Deleon, the volunteer coordinator for the organization, Mixteca.

What You Need To Know

  • A $2 million grant was recently canceled by the Trump administration and GrowNYC said money for their programs will run out in August

  • The group, and others like it, rely on grants from both the state and federal level to distribute fresh food to New Yorkers in need

  • Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, along with 31 other senators, are demanding that the Department of Agriculture restore the funding of food purchase programs across the U.S.

GrowNYC is a nonprofit dedicated to distributing millions of pounds of free fresh fruit and veggies citywide every year thanks to a U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant.

“A lot of our work is subsidized by grants from both the state and federal level,” said Ariel David, the assistant director of advancement at GrowNYC. “And in the recent administration in the past couple of months, we’ve seen our grants getting cancelled or frozen and under review.”

A $2 million grant was recently canceled by the Trump administration and GrowNYC said money for their programs will run out in August. The group said without outside funding, it will no longer be able to continue food distribution events.

Mixteca, which runs a food market on Saturdays in Park Slope, also worries what will happen to the families it serves.

“We’re already facing food insecurity in our community, to lose the funding for a program like this will be a tremendous blow. You will see more kids going hungry possibly affecting their performance in school and obviously families struggling,” said Deleon.

One marketgoer, who asked to be identified by only his first name, Adolfo, said the market has helped him tremendously in times of need.

“I didn’t have any job two weeks so that helps a lot to get some food,” he said.

He added that the funding cuts will be a “disaster for everybody.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, along with 31 other senators, are demanding that the Department of Agriculture restore the funding of food purchase programs across the U.S saying, in part, “This will decrease the availability of local foods for the programs that rely on them to feed New Yorkers in need. I am vehemently opposed to the USDA’s decision, and I will fight for its reversal.”

GrowNYC has also created an emergency fund to help raise money to help fill the gap.

“It’s a time for the community together,” said David. “We gotta find a way to keep our families fed keep our children fed.”

The organization noted the funding cuts will also hurt upstate farmers, whom they purchase produce from.