Resources

Developed by the Healthy Community Store Initiative (funded by Cornell Cooperative Extension), this recipe book was created to help introduce community members to healthful recipes that can be made using ingredients found in a Healthy Corner store!

A list of times and days you can drop off compost material in Amherst, NY.

Looking to start a business? Go to Buffalo State's Small Business Development Center page for seminars, classes, training; information on minority and women-owned business enterprises; and much more.

Learn about classes offered, recipes, nutrition education, and obesity prevention programs available locally.

A gleaning how-to guide prepared by Salvation Farms.

One of our associated organizations that offers cooking videos and other information about healthful foods.

Cornell Cooperative Extension has a Fruit and Veggie Prescription Program. Participation of health care facilities in this program means increased healthy food access for their patients, as those who are eligible receive vouchers for discounted fruits and vegetables.

Double Your Snap/EBT Dollars

A compilation of low-cost, easy to make recipes submitted by community members for use during weather emergencies.

Learn about Erie County's efforts to promote infant and child nutrition through the creation of its Breastfeeding Friendly Designation.

Developed by the Erie County Clerk's office, the directory is intended to assist businesspeople by providing a comprehensive guide to the local business and governmental landscape. The Directory will reduce the time needed to get information to start and operate a business here. More information here.

Learn more about Erie County's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and address our changing climate. For example, the Erie County Low-Income Program for Sustainable Energy (ECLIPSE) will address these impacts for Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) eligible families.

Learn about Erie County's efforts to protect local farmland and promote sustainable growth.

While there are many different applications listed, some local businesses may need access to permit applications for Food Service Establishments, Temporary Food Service Establishments, and other food business permits. For more questions on which permit application is right for you, please call Erie County Department of Environmental Health at 716-961-6800.

Access more resources to learn about Erie County's participation in efforts to preserve and protect our local farmland.

Get more information about locally grown foods, where they are, and how to win prizes for visiting these locations.

Get more information about locally grown foods, where they are, and how to win prizes for visiting these locations.

Review these recipes for some ideas on how to use locally-grown produce!

A video series teaching Food Safety to farmworkers, hosted by Cornell. Cooperative Extension of Erie County.

Guide to help institutions adopt policies promoting purchase of local, healthy foods.

Request Feedmore's Mobile Farm market come to your site to provide fresh produce to your community.

Locate food pantries and soup kitchens.

Find resources such as food, jobs, and housing. It’s searchable by zip code to connect people to their local resources.

Outlines best practices and resources for designated food scraps generators (DFSGs) to use when developing their organics management programs and maintaining compliance under the law.

An educational booklet for physicians and health care organizations to learn more about food insecurity.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides resources for reducing food waste, including recommendations for methods of home-preservation. Learn more about reducing food waste with the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

A list of food scrap recycling facilities sorted by region.

A pledge to grow food sustainably with health in mind. Find out more at the Greater Buffalo Urban Grower's Facebook page.

If you own a business and are interested in getting a free bike rack, learning more about offering employees discounted metro passes, and more programs that promote walking/biking/public transit, click on the link to learn more.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides information on the steps taken in produce packing areas to reduce microbial contamination.

Learn from members of GBUG the best practices for starting and maintaining an urban garden!

The overarching goal of this partnership is to enhance community food security while ensuring sustainable and economically viable agriculture and food production. This requires building the capacity of local governments to remove public policy barriers and deploy innovative public policy tools. 

Where to find information about food and agriculture regulations locally, regionally, and nationally.

An initiative hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County. Find healthy corner stores near you, access a recipe book that uses only items that are able to be purchased at these corner stores, and more!

Ways for health providers and community organizations to get involved in increasing the health of our residents through decreasing the intake of sodium.

Get connected with food, nutrition education, and other resources to improve healthy food access.

Located on the West Side of Buffalo, Massachusetts Avenue Project (MAP) is a non-profit urban farm located on Buffalo's West Side. Visit their website to rent space in their farmhouse, find jobs for youth, find a guide to urban agriculture, learn what to do with food scraps, rent space in their kitchen and find recipes, locate their mobile food truck, or support their efforts.

Find places that will take the things you need to get rid of! Can sort by category to find those only relevant to your needs.

A set of case studies examining gleaning efforts across the United States.

The directory lists all Chambers of Commerce in New York State (searchable by city), who can be contacted for questions and resources to help run their business. They can provide support in the development of projects within the county, perform analyses, and provide information for public bodies.

Learn how to become a WIC vendor (i.e., accept WIC at your business), find out about WIC approved foods, locating WIC stores, minimum stock requirements, and how eWIC works.

Learn more about the process for obtaining a home processor exemption, including a list of foods that are able to be processed and sold for retail in your own home rather than in a commercial kitchen.

Information on the new Food Waste Law, composting locations.

Learn about Providence Farm Collective and their work to support underserved farmers, educate youth, and provide employment opportunities.

A report addressing food waste across the United States.

Learn about Seeding Resilience's work in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on food availability and resources, as well as their food systems work from prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An initiative from the Amherst Chamber of Commerce helps connect consumers to local retailers, restaurants, and attractions in Erie County. You can find places to shop, buy gift cards as gifts that can be used at hundreds of local merchants, and sign up to participate as a merchant in Shop 716.

Be a vendor or shopper!

Located on the East Side of Buffalo, the Broadway Market functions as a small business incubator, hosting food service and other retailers to help their business grow. They offer a shared kitchen for food preparation, as well as individual spaces for food and other vendors. They often host events featuring local producers as well.

Locate food distribution in your area. Often, these resources are low cost or free.

Learn about Buffalo's urban agricultural landscape and ways to support our urban farmers.

Learn how to glean with USDA guidance!

A mobile farmers market located in Niagara County providing locally sourced food to their communities.

Located on the West Side of Buffalo, WEDI provides programming, education, and much more to residents. Their resources can help people open businesses, find microloans, and much more. They even created the West Side Bazaar --a small business incubator where people can utilize a shared space for retail or food preparation and get started with their business.

(MBE) - Provides workshops, technical assistance, and data technology to improve soil health for farms, towns & municipalities, and agricultural facilities across WNY.

Located on the West Side of Buffalo, the West Side Bazaar is a small business incubator where people can utilize a shared space for retail or food preparation and get started with their business. They offer individual spaces for food and other vendors, and host events featuring local producers.

Associated organizations that may be of interest to those with stakes in the food system.

Request and Offer Resources for Food System's members in WNY, or navigate the site and get involved with their work.

Learn more about how to integrate sustainability into your business to help your business, your staff, and the bottom line.