MIDDLETOWN – Modeled after the successful Columbia County Bounty program, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County has launched Orange County Bounty, to provide locally grown produce to local chefs and restaurants.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Agriculture Issue Leader Lucy Joyce said the new program will provide healthy, fresh ingredients for restaurants to serve to their local clientele.

“The Orange County Bounty Project is a cooperative effort with Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation, a relatively new agency designed to assist in the economic development of agricultural products and this particular effort is to help foster the purchase of local food by, especially restaurants, but also small wholesale buyers,” she said.

Any farm that wants to participate in the program should call Vicki Simons at 518-392-7529. There is no fee to participate.