Healthy Orange Market Boosts Access to Local Food, Community Health

The Orange County Department of Health celebrated another productive season of the Healthy Orange Farmers Market in the City of Newburgh, drawing hundreds of residents to shop, learn, and connect around healthy living. Held through the season that ended on November 17, the market combined local vendors, community partners, and targeted programs to improve food access and support public health.

Organizers partnered with The Cathedral at the House and a variety of local agencies to bring farm fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and other locally made goods to the neighborhood. Nutrition and cooking classes led by Cornell Cooperative Extension taught hands on techniques for preparing healthy affordable meals with seasonal produce. Participants received recipe booklets and fresh produce vouchers to reinforce lessons at home. The Regional Food Bank contributed demonstrations and food tips, helping translate nutrition advice into practical meals for families facing limited budgets.

Public health services were woven into the market experience. Cornerstone Family Healthcare deployed a mobile van to provide free manual breast exams and education about early detection, bringing preventive care directly to the community. OCDOH Early Intervention and Cornell Master Gardeners engaged children and families during a Kids Day event before the school year, which included free food and water play alongside activities that promote wellness.

This season also launched the Healthy Orange Farm Box Program, which delivered boxes of locally sourced produce to residents at Varrick Apartments, Burton Towers, and Cerone Place. The county thanked apartment management teams, The Cathedral at the House, Meals on Wheels, and other community agencies for assisting with deliveries and outreach. By meeting residents where they live, the program aimed to reduce barriers to fresh food for residents with mobility constraints or limited transportation.

The Healthy Orange Farm Fresh Program operates with support from the New York Food for New York Families Grant, administered through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and supported by the United States Department of Agriculture Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. That funding underpins both purchases from local farmers and distribution efforts that prioritize equity and community partnership.

For Orange County residents, the market season represented more than a place to buy food. It served as a site of early detection services, nutrition education, and direct food support for people in subsidized housing. County officials said they plan to return mid June through the end of October 2026 and provided a contact phone and a link for more information and media inquiries. The season underscored how local investment and coordinated policy support can strengthen food security and community health in Newburgh and across Orange County.