Corbin Hill Farm : Vegetables served with Sustainable Sauce

 Corbin Hill Farm offers fresh locally grown vegetables in areas of NYC that are often poorly served by traditional food distribution infrastructure. Additionally they offer a financial model of participation that brings the term "food justice" to mind. In an era of huge corporate food delivered invisibly Corbin Hill Farm offers smiling faces committed to proving a model of growing and consumption that solves many outstanding difficulties. I met with the folks delivering food at Urban Garden Center where they bring the goodness.

MG: What is the main goal of a CSA in New York City?

CHF: Although Corbin Hill Farm is inspired by the CSA model, we are actually a Farm Share. Unlike most CSAs, we offer flexible membership terms in order to make fresh produce accessible to the diverse communities we serve. Our primary goal is to eradicate food deserts in Harlem and the South Bronx.

MG:  Is this a profitable venture?

CHF: We are a for-profit social venture. This means that when we become profitable, these resources will go back to our shareholders. Our long-term goal is for Corbin Hill Road Farm (a 95 acre farm in Schoharie County) to belong to the residents of Harlem and the Bronx.

MG:  Where did the idea to target food deserts come up from?

CHF: Dennis Derryck, the project’s founder and president, is a long-time Harlem resident who has spent extensive time in the Bronx. He saw the lack of access to fresh produce in these areas (sometimes due to financial barriers, often due to a lack of farmers’ markets, CSAs, or even supermarkets) and decided to take matters into his own hands. Dennis organized a group of investors – many of whom live in the areas we serve, 72% percent are African-Americans and Latinos, and 51% are women – and together they bought a farm, created a network with small farmers in Schoharie County New York and started the Farm Share.

MG:  What is the solution for local food sources in the winter?

CHF: Although New York State weather makes it impossible to farm in the winter, our region is lucky to produce amazing storage vegetables, which last through the whole winter into spring. Last winter, we delivered year round for the first time. In December, we switched to once-a-month distributions and delivered 30 pound boxes of potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, turnips, beets, carrots, winter squash, cabbage, apples, and even hydroponic lettuce around the city. We also highly encourage our shareholders to preserve summer’s bounty by freezing, drying, canning, and pickling it and offer various guides to assist with these projects. With a little planning, it’s possible to eat a mostly local diet year-round… in the Northeast… on a budget!

MG:  How are these efforts funded?

CHF: (mentioned  before) Corbin Hill Farm is a for-­profit social venture. Of the more than $500,000 of equity raised to purchase the farm and launch the Farm Share, 72% came from African­-Americans and Latinos, and 51% from women. When Corbin Hill Farm becomes profitable, Farm Share members will be offered the opportunity to own equity in the venture.

MG:  How many shares do you need to sell in each location to continue to provide this service?

CHF: We have a target of at least 30 shares for each of our locations.

MG:  Why buy a share in your venture - isn't it easier just to go to the store?

CHF: Many of the neighborhoods we serve don’t have grocery stores that stock fresh produce within walking distance, so to access a supermarket, our shareholders would have to find time and a transportation budget to get fresh food, while the Farm Share is delivered to sites conveniently located close to home. The quality of the food is incomparable to what is found in the produce aisle: our fruits and vegetables are harvested on Sunday and are on the plate by Tuesday, which means they are more delicious and more nutritious than produce delivered from far-off lands and kept fresh by various artificial means on supermarket shelves.


CHF: Our prices are often lower than what is offered at supermarkets in Harlem and the Bronx. And, not to mention, that by joining Corbin Hill shareholders are making a choice to be healthier community members and to support a sustainable regional economy, redefining the relationship between consumers, farmers, and investors.

MG:  What are your plans from here? Are you expanding?

CHF: Oh yes! We’ve already doubled our membership since last season and continue growing our efforts throughout Harlem and the Bronx. We are also in the planning stages of starting a non-profit that will enable us to expand our educational programs upstate and downstate; secure more subsidies for our shareholders; and provide more opportunities for beginning farmers.Answered by Krishna Omolade - Operations Manager, and Tusha Yakovleva - Engagement and Marketing Coordinator.