FeedHV Expands Food Rescue Program with County Fairs Across the Hudson Valley

Adding Columbia County Fair to Collect a Total of 1,700+ Pounds of Food 

For the past five years, FeedHV, in partnership with a fair food rescue team, has been working to collect and distribute food from regional county fairs each season. In 2026, FeedHV collected and distributed a total of 1,761 pounds of food from three county fairs. The rescue team included volunteers, fair managers, community leaders and partner organizations who collaborated to collect unused food from fair vendors at the conclusion of each fair.

FeedHV, a program of the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation, is the Hudson Valley’s app-assisted food rescue and harvesting network, dedicated to meeting the needs of neighbors while mitigating the impacts of food waste.  

“Our fair food collection was such a success this year and we hope to work with more county fairs in years to come,” said Isabella Kemp, FeedHV program coordinator. “FeedHV is so grateful to collaborate with such incredible organizations and volunteers. We appreciate all the vendors who donated and send a special thanks to the volunteers who helped move this food.” 

FeedHV has been working with the Dutchess County Fair for the past five years and Ulster County Fair for three y hree years. This year, the program added the Columbia County Fair to their efforts with a strong turnout and enthusiastic participation from vendors, volunteers and local pantries. As a result of the fair food rescue team collaboration, FeedHV served 17 local pantries and food distribution centers across Dutchess, Ulster and Columbia Counties.  

“One of the things I’m most proud of about the Columbia County Fair is the way it brings people together and gives back to our community,” said Eric Barnes, General Manager of the Columbia County Fair and Secretary of the Columbia County Agricultural Society. “To collect 638 pounds of food in our first year is a tremendous start, and it says a lot about the generosity of our vendors and the people who make the fair happen. We’re excited to continue this partnership with FeedHV and look forward to working together in the years ahead.”  

The FeedHV program has grown exponentially since its inception in 2017 due to its vast network of donors, feeding agencies and volunteers. In April, the organization celebrated its greatest milestone in the program’s history, reaching more than one million pounds of food rescued. In this year alone, FeedHV has saved more than 200,000 pounds of food that would have otherwise gone to waste.  

The FeedHV now network includes 507 volunteers, 268 donor organizations and more than 192 receiving agencies. Donors range from restaurants, farms and food makers to caterers, event venues and educational institutions. FeedHV uses the ChowMatch app to match food donors with food assistance programs and direct food to those who need it most.  

FeedHV is always looking for volunteer food drivers, food donors and receiving agencies in the counties it serves. Monetary gifts allow the program to purchase directly from local farms to augment the donations that run through the FeedHV rescue network, provide even more to our receiving agencies, and support local agriculture. To make a monetary donation to match food donors with food assistance programs and direct food to those who need it most.  

FeedHV is always looking for volunteer food drivers, food donors and receiving agencies in the counties it serves. Monetary gifts allow the program to purchase directly from local farms to augment the donations that run through the FeedHV rescue network, provide even more to our receiving agencies, and support local agriculture. To make a monetary donation to FeedHV, visit www.feedhv.org/donate-today.