Food Services
Feeding Our Neighbors
The Food Services Program distributes food to vulnerable, low-income populations with limited access to food in Franklin, Clinton, and St. Lawrence Counties. We do this by (1) recovering local food and (2) farming fresh vegetables. The Food Services Program delivers this food to over 20 food pantries across the three counties!
The program also operates its own food pantry every Monday through Friday, where clients can receive nutrition education and have the opportunity to work with Community Outreach staff to sign up for other programs they may qualify for, such as SNAP, HEAP, and WIC. The Food Services food pantry is located at 43 Valco Dr. in Malone, and is open on Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 11:00am and 12:00pm - 4:30pm.
The Food Services Program has a New York State Department of Health certified kitchen to package produce for sale. Produce is grown in our state-of-the-art greenhouses and in gardens on the surrounding property. In 2023, the program entered into a partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Through this collaboration, a horticulturist from Cornell has begun work in JCEO’s greenhouses to enhance both the quality and the quantity of produce, further supporting our mission to provide nutritious food resources to the residents of Clinton and Franklin Counties.
Mobile Farmer’s Market
Fresh, Accessible Produce
JCEO’s Mobile Farmer’s Market travels June through September to towns across the North Country, selling fresh produce and baked goods. The market itself is a mini-bus converted into a store, lined with bins for fresh produce where customers can make their own mix of fresh-cut vegetables. The market has been generously sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield throughout 2022 and 2023.
Proceeds from the market go towards the purchase of seeds and equipment for the following year, creating a pattern of self-sufficiency.
For travel times and locations and up to date information on the Market, visit the Mobile Market Facebook Page.
Our Greenhouses
We are committed to sustainability and finding new ways to improve community well-being. Since 2013, JCEO has been cultivating its own produce in Franklin County, and in 2019, our latest, state-of-the-art greenhouses were constructed with a grant from the Adirondack Health Institute's Performing Provider System (AHI PPS). This significant development extended our growing season from three to nine months and prolonged the Mobile Market's schedule by an additional 4 weeks.
In 2023, the greenhouses received a further boost with the addition of a horticulturist from Cornell Cooperative Extension. With their help, we have been training our staff on how to improve cultivation practices, enhancing both the quality and quantity of the fruits and vegetables we grow. Additionally, the greenhouses have become a hub for nurturing future horticulturists, contributing to the broader goal of sustainable agriculture and community resilience.
