Earlier this month it was announced East End Food is getting a really big boost toward completing its future brick-and-mortar home in Riverhead.
The nonprofit organization (formerly known as the East End Food Institute), which supports, promotes and advocates for eastern Long Island’s farmers and agricultural viability, as well as producers and community members in the food business, was recently awarded a $5 million grant through the New York State Regional School Fund Infrastructure Grant Program to be used to purchase and complete the East End Food Hub in Riverhead, a project with an estimated price tag upward of $20 million. Located on the corner of Main Road and Cross River Drive, near the Aquebogue border, the East End Food Hub will serve as a year-round farmers market and shared commercial kitchen space, the former of which temporarily relocated to Twin Fork Beer Co. (also in Riverhead) while the latter was housed on the Stony Brook University Southampton campus until 2023.
“After so much uncertainty, this moment is monumental,” says Marci Moreau, executive director of East End Food. “This grant doesn’t just fund the purchase of a building—it anchors our mission in place and time. It’s a win not only for East End Food but for every farmer, food producer, schoolchild, and family that calls Eastern Long Island home. The ripple effect of this investment will be felt for generations.”
The grant was announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul, as part of her $10 million statewide initiative, according to a press release, and will allow East End Food to continue to serve as a “cornerstone for the regional food system — designed to connect small and mid-sized farms to schools, hospitals, institutions and community programs.” The food hub will act as a centralized facility for processing, storing and distributing local food, while also offering space to support farmers, fisherman and food producers, provide workforce development training, and will also be a thriving spot for educational initiatives, specifically farm-to-table programs and nutrition while promoting comprehensive access to fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Situated at 139 Main Road, the grant will help East End Food to purchase the property its currently leasing. (Photos courtesy of East End Food)
“For East End Food, this is not just a grant. It is a lifeline and a launchpad,” the press release says. “After years of fundraising hurdles and building delays, the organization finally has the means to secure the physical space it needs to operate and grow. And with that, the region gains more than just a building—it gains a future where farms thrive, students eat well, and local food stays local.”
Additionally, the permanent location for the hub will allow the organization to better support several Long Island school districts, including Southampton, Westhampton Beach, Riverhead Central, Copiague, North Shore and Half Hollow Hills, as well as seven local food pantries and three senior centers.
“Eastern Long Island is home to incredible agricultural resources and talent, but too often, local food doesn’t make it into our schools,” said Moreau. “This hub changes that. And this grant ensures it finally becomes reality.”
