Above: Heartbeet Farm co-founders Jennifer Ross, left, and Ann Pellegrino
From Mobile Farm Stand Rolls into Stony Brook on SBU Happenings on June 22, 2018
The Faculty Student Association (FSA) is bringing fresh, local, organically grown produce through the mobile farm stand HeartBeet Farms, every Tuesday this summer, starting this June 26.
HeartBeet Farms is located only three miles from Stony Brook and it organically grows fresh fruits and vegetables. The farm is the brainchild of Ann Pellegrino, Co-Founder of HeartBeet Farms.
The farm grew out of her own experience of visiting food pantries and observing the lack of fruits and vegetables options.
“I was a single mom working two jobs and raising three kids. So, I would go to food pantries to get ‘boxed stuff’ that I was very grateful for, but they had no vitamins or nutrients in them,” Pellegrino said. “Years later, when I was more stable, I wanted to help feed people and give them fruits and vegetables that had nutrients and vitamins in them.”
Jennifer Ross, Heartbeet Farms Co-Founder and Marketing Strategist, added: “Our focus with HeartBeet Farms is really to serve the immediate community, like the Town of Brookhaven, Town of Smithtown, and the Town of Islip with local, organically grown produce. With Stony Brook University being only three miles away, it was a natural fit to partner with them, so the campus community could also enjoy farm fresh products.”
Ross said that HeartBeet Farms stands out because “we are extremely passionate about what we do. We have a commitment to really connect people to where their food is coming from. It’s not just about selling organic produce, it’s about educating people that food doesn’t just come from a box.”
HeartBeet Farms has also developed an internship program for Sustainability Studies students to bring more experiential learning opportunities to Stony Brook University and be able to participate in all aspects of working on and managing a farm that grows organic produce.
From June 26 to August 14 on Tuesdays the Heartbeet Farms Mobile Farm Stand Truck will be parked on Toll Drive, West Campus from 12pm-2:30pm and an indoor farm stand will be by the Market Place Cafe, East Campus Hospital lobby, Level 5 from 3pm-5pm.
