Exotic Produce Brings Cultural Diversity To Food Bank Farm

BRENTWOOD, NY —New vegetable crops aiming to please the palate of food-insecure Long Island residents from different cultures have been planted on a Brentwood farm that supplies Island Harvest Food Bank, the organization told Patch on Friday.

New veggies including tomatillo, amaranth, jalapeno, collards, okra, garlic and mushrooms have diversified the fields at food bank's 1.8-acre Healthy Harvest Farm in Brentwood, which is part of a 212-acre parcel owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

"The culturally diverse produce Island Harvest planted come, in part, from surveys the food bank conducts among its member agencies in Nassau and Suffolk counties," a spokesperson for Island Harvest told Patch.

While tomatillo and jalapeno are familiar with Latin Americans, amaranth, collards and okra are common foods for people from the Caribbean and of African American heritage, the food bank said.

The new veggies will grow alongside the farm's staple crops like beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon and zucchini.

“We wanted to offer culturally diverse produce for Long Islanders who are food-insecure from different backgrounds who may live in food deserts and often don’t have access to products they are used to cooking with,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president & CEO of Island Harvest. “As part of our holistic approach to addressing hunger and food insecurity on Long Island, we also teach people how to cultivate and grow their own fruits, herbs and vegetables.”

At the Healthy Harvest Farm, the food bank practices regenerative farming, which includes restoring the soil’s health, protecting it from wind and sun, and working with nature and not against it.

“Regenerative agriculture includes composting, which improves the soil’s health and drainage, and crop rotation, which helps prevent diseases, insects and weeds while building healthy soil,” said Farm Coordinator Cassidy Kirch.

She explained that other regenerative agriculture practices include reducing soil disturbance by minimizing tilling and covering the soil with vegetation or natural material. The food bank has also used a centuries-old Native American growing technique for several years, called the Three Sisters method, using corn, beans and squash seeds that help each other thrive.

“The process of regenerative farming also reduces farm labor inputs,” said Shubin Dresner, who added that the farm is staffed by one full-time and one part-time organic gardener, supported by local volunteers who assist with planting, cultivating and harvesting the crops.

The new era at Healthy Harvest Farm includes some exotic fruits, too. The Sisters of St. Joseph donated 27 new fruit trees and bushes, including Asian pear, nectarine and blueberry bushes.

In 2023, 10,541 pounds of produce was grown at the farm, which was established in 2018 to meet the nutritional needs of Suffolk and Nassau residents who don’t always have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Island Harvest and the people we serve are continually grateful to the Sisters of St. Joseph for their generosity and compassion,” Shubin Dresner said. “The latest donation is a legacy that will bear fruit and hope for generations.”

Anyone interested in starting a giving garden at home or in the community may contact Cassidy Kirch, Giving Gardens/Farm Coordinator, at 631-873-4775, extension 229, or [email protected].