Hunts Point-Based Food Hub Will Improve Access to Healthy Foods for Underserved Populations

First-of-Its-Kind Facility Will Increase Food Distribution by 600 Percent, Creating Jobs and Supporting Local Agriculture

60,000 Square-Foot Cold Storage Facility Connects Upstate Farms to Downstate Markets

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the New York State Regional Food Hub, a $45 million cold-storage facility that will transform food access across New York. The first-of-its-kind 60,000 square-foot facility, operated by GrowNYC in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx, will enable a 600 percent increase in locally-sourced food distribution — from approximately 3 million pounds to 20 million pounds annually by 2034 — while creating over 200 new jobs and providing a critical economic lifeline to New York farmers. The facility, supported by $19 million from New York State, as recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council, represents a joint State and City investment designed to strengthen the local food economy, support New York farmers, and improve access to healthy and affordable foods for low-income communities.

“The New York State Regional Food Hub is a game-changer for families and farmers across New York,” Governor Hochul said. “From the streets of the Bronx to the farms of Batavia, the Empire State has so much to offer. That's why we invested in this massive GrowNYC facility to expand access to fresh, local food while creating new economic opportunities for our agricultural producers.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “We are proud to support this transformative infrastructure that will create jobs and dramatically expand access to affordable, healthy food for New Yorkers. ESD's strategic investment enhances the efficiency, sustainability, and equity of our state's food system by connecting upstate farmers directly to downstate markets, ensuring urban families have access to the quality produce they deserve. The New York State Regional Food Hub represents a model investment that will benefit communities across our state.”

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The New York State Regional Food Hub is designed to be a game changer for our farmers bringing product to market and to our families who will have greater access to quality New York grown fruits and vegetables. We learned during the pandemic that we needed to double down on our efforts to strengthen the food supply chain and make sure that we had a food system right here in New York that was resilient and could feed its communities. This Food Hub is a tremendous piece of that puzzle and will provide an incredible benefit to our underserved populations and to our farmers.”

Read the full press release here.