RHINEBECK, NY — One of many greatest attracts the annual Dutchess County Honest offers — beside the world-class musical acts, the prize-winning livestock and the astounding arts and crafts — is the wide range of meals that’s obtainable, from fried Oreos to worldwide delicacies.

One concern through the years was what to do with any meals that was left over as soon as the general public went house.

That modified this yr because of native meals rescue organizations: Unsold ready meals was being gathered from distributors that was distributed to space meals banks, serving to to feed these in want.

Volunteers for FeedHV and Purple Hook Responds fanned out because the truthful wound down Sunday, going to meals distributors all through the 147-acre fairgrounds who had been instructed in regards to the potential to donate leftovers in the course of the week.

Mary Ann Johnson, deputy director of the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Growth Company, instructed Patch that FeedHV had been considering for some time of recent methods to get extra donors.

FeedHV is a regional meals rescue and harvesting community working all through Dutchess and Ulster counties and the remainder of Hudson Valley. In accordance with organizers, it hyperlinks donors of ready, however unserved, meals and contemporary produce with nonprofits and meals help packages.

Johnson stated Dutchess County Honest officers had been instantly receptive to the idea of meals being donated on the finish of the annual occasion, which is the second-largest county truthful within the state, bringing in near a half million guests.

The 176th version of the truthful featured about 100 meals distributors all throughout the fairgrounds, together with the Grange, 4H and the halfway areas.

“The response has been unbelievable,” Johnson stated, including that distributors have been obsessed with this system.

About 20 distributors had been capable of donate produce and salad fixings and protein, together with sausages and even London broil.

After Johnson and the volunteers collected the meals, they turned it over to Purple Hook Responds.

That nonprofit, which coordinates and helps volunteer efforts within the Purple Hook space, additionally operates a meals change that connects native farms with pantries and runs a dinner supply service for these in want.

Johnson stated Purple Hook Responds has the flexibility to both instantly distribute the meals or retailer it for a number of days.

She stated in addition they take particular person substances and incorporate them into meals.

“The essential factor to recollect,” Johnson stated, “is that meals insecurity remains to be a difficulty.

“Though individuals are attempting to return to regular, individuals are nonetheless hungry and want some help,” she stated.

Johnson stated, in the course of the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, native organizations noticed will increase of 40 to 100 % of individuals in want.

“That has backed off,” she stated, “however there may be nonetheless a rise in want. The numbers are nonetheless up.”

A part of the problem of getting donations is that eating places have tightened their budgets and do not have as a lot surplus as earlier than.

The continuing drought hasn’t made issues any simpler, she stated.

“It might change into (the farmers) do not have something to donate,” Johnson stated.

Andy Imperati, the CEO/truthful supervisor of the Dutchess County Honest, acknowledged how lucky the fairgrounds was to be a part of the Dutchess County group.

“To work with different nonprofits and have the ability to give again to our group makes this venture particularly agreeable,” he stated.

For Johnson’s half, she’s happy with the best way the inaugural meals donation program turned out.

When requested if it’ll occur once more in 2023, she was fast to reply, “That is actually our aim.”

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to assist increase consciousness of starvation in our native communities, a persistent nationwide downside exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which helps 200 meals banks throughout the nation, estimates that 1 in eight folks face starvation. This can be a Patch social good venture; Feeding America receives 100 % of donations. Discover out how one can donate in your group or discover a meals pantry close to you.