For over thirteen years, Just Food has been dedicated to making fresh, locally grown food available and accessible to all New Yorkers. Our efforts include a robust CSA program, training and technical support to a network of City Farms, Community Food Education, a farm to food pantry program, and an advocacy program aimed at increasing food justice citywide. To learn more about our work, please visit www.justfood.org.

McKinley Hightower Beyah

In August of 2007, Just Food and the urban agriculture and food security movement as a whole lost a dear friend. McKinley Hightower-Beyah was an inspiration. Wholeheartedly dedicated to helping others, McKinley fed his community in body and in spirit for decades.

McKinley encouraged good things to grow. He gardened so that he could give food away through food pantries and soup kitchens, he started a farmers market when he saw an unmet need for fresh food, he took on the Herculean task of enticing farmers to Far Rockaway, Queens, and he gave tirelessly of himself – teaching, advocating, volunteering, and fighting for food justice.

We are truly grateful for all that McKinley gave and did. It is an honor and a pleasure to help keep his legacy alive by creating this award to celebrate his memory and the outstanding individuals who continue to build the better world he had envisioned.

Christine Quinn

For Christine Quinn, Speaker of New York City Council, joining a CSA was only one way in which she proved her dedication to a more healthy and sustainable food system. As a champion for public health and food justice, she has made healthy, affordable, accessible food a priority throughout the five boroughs, emphasizing this need particularly in low-income NYC neighborhoods. http://www.council.nyc.gov/d3/html/members/home.shtml

Ted Blomgren

When Just Food set out to link local growers with New York City residents, Ted Blomgren helped out every step of the way. He has served as an advisor on our Farmer Advisory Committee for 7 years, a grower, supplying 7 CSAs in NYC, and a supporter who increased fresh food access for all New Yorkers by growing for our Fresh Food For All Program which connects food pantries and soup kitchens with locally grown food.

Ted Blomgren lives and harvests with his family at Windflower Farm in Valley Falls, NY.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595245-4,00.html

La Familia Verde Garden Coalition

Since 1998, La Familia Verde has been sustaining the environment and culture of the Crotona, East Tremont, and West Farms neighborhoods of the Bronx. The members are gardeners, environmental stewards, educators, and food justice advocates. Working with Just Food, La Familia Verde started their own community-run farmers’ market and cultivated neighborhood-based leadership. Through out-reached they improved the health and well-being of their community as a whole. La Familia Verde can most easily be found at their farmers market on Tuesday mornings throughout the summer calling "Get your freeeeesh vegetables!  We grow ’em, You eat 'em!!" http://www.lafamiliaverde.org/

Abu Talib

Urban farmer, City Farms Trainer, farmer’s market organizer, beekeeper, and long-time partner, Abu Talib has been planting the seeds of wellbeing in his community for over 30 years. When asked why, his answer was this: “We are not just raising food, we are raising people. It is not right that a handful of people control the whole food industry, because he who controls your breadbasket controls your destiny. We live in the most fabulous country in the world, with the best land. Why are some of us still hungry?”

Abu Talib lives in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx and grows food at Taqwa Community Farm.

Aureole

Angelica Kitchen

Da Silvano

Del Posto

Gramercy Tavern

Great Performances

Jimmy's No. 43

Little D Eatery

Little Giant

Palo Santo

Rose Water

Telepan

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