Rooted in Giving: Share the Harvest Farm’s Community-Driven Mission

At 55 Long Lane, East Hampton, Share the Harvest Farm is more than just rows of vibrant vegetables and rich soil, but a deeply rooted reflection of compassion and the strength of community. Founded in 2010 by John Malafronte, Ira Bezoza and Peter Garnham, this nonprofit farm was built on a simple but powerful idea, that everyone deserves access to wholesome,  locally grown food.

For over 15 years, Share the Harvest has partnered with numerous other non-profit organizations to serve members of their community who may be dealing with food insecurity. In a region often associated with luxury and wealth, the farm sheds light on a quieter truth in which many local residents struggle to put healthy food on the table. At its core, Share the Harvest Farm is a place of purpose where every tomato, carrot, and pepper represents the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors.

Meredith Arm, the Executive Director, and Matthew Quirk, the Farm Director, shared more about the farm’s mission, the challenges they face, and the deep sense of purpose that drives their work each day.

Why does the farm serve the communities it does, and how does it do so?

Meredith:  We focus on serving individuals and families in need throughout the East End of  Long Island. We partner with 10 local food pantries, women’s shelters, low-income senior housing facilities, childcare centers, and other nonprofit organizations that provide direct support to those facing food insecurity. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to fresh, highly nutritious produce. We serve these communities because we live in them—this is our home, and we believe healthy food is a basic right. While the Hamptons are often associated with wealth and luxury, there is a deep and often unseen disparity here. Many year-round residents are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet, and access to affordable,  healthy food is a real— and growing— challenge.

What challenges does the farm face in its mission to donate food, and how do you overcome them?

Matt:  In terms of on-the-farm challenges, every year poses different issues. Whether it be weather, like extreme rains and humidity causing blight/disease, or insect pressure, there is constantly something that pops up. Growing organically also adds to these challenges. One example is last year, we lost almost all of our pepper plants to Phytophthora blight. This lives in the soil and can be transferred from field to field just by someone’s shoes.

Every year, it seems to be something different that poses a challenge for us growers.

Meredith:  One of our biggest ongoing hurdles is funding. As a nonprofit committed to donating the majority of what we grow, we rely heavily on individual donations and community support to sustain our operations. Rising costs — for seeds, staffing, equipment, and infrastructure — have made this work even more difficult in recent years.

In 2024, we donated over 45,000 pounds of produce and helped feed 1,000 families each week  — a number that continues to grow. In recent months, more pantries have been reaching out for support, and the partners we already serve are requesting more and more produce to make up for the loss of government support.

 We work hard to overcome these financial challenges through fundraising events, cultivating relationships with donors and partners, spreading awareness, and maximizing the impact of our seasonal farm stand sales — all while keeping our mission at the center of everything we do.

How does Share the Harvest Farm fund its operations and are there any ways the community can contribute financially or through fundraising efforts?

Meredith:  Share the Harvest Farm is primarily funded through individual donations, grants, and community fundraising events. We also raise funds through the sale of a small percentage of our produce at our seasonal farm stand, which opens May 15th for the season. Every dollar raised helps us grow more food and feed more people. Community members can contribute by donating directly through our website, attending our benefits and events, and shopping at the farm stand.

Our Summer Soirée, held on the farm on August 3rd, is our largest fundraiser of the year — an  incredible evening under the stars featuring local food artisans, libations, live music and  community spirit. We’re currently seeking sponsorships, vendors, and silent auction items for  this very special night that truly reflects the heart of our mission.

Much like our farm, the Soirée is entirely community-powered—and we’d love to have as many people involved as possible. Tickets go on sale Memorial Day Weekend, so be sure to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop!

Does Share the Harvest Farm work with any local organizations, schools or other groups to expand its impact? How can the community get involved with Share the Harvest Farm?

Meredith:  Yes — we partner with numerous local organizations, including The Retreat Women’s  Shelter, Springs Food Pantry, St. Michael’s Senior Housing, Heart of the Hamptons, Slow Food  East End, and the American Heart Association.

We also host volunteer days and offer seasonal events and classes, like our popular Dahlia Night each September. Community members can get involved by signing up to volunteer,  attending an event, or joining us for one of our seasonal fundraisers. We’re always looking for passionate people who want to get involved and make a difference!

 What makes Share the Harvest Farm special?

Matt:  I believe what makes Share the Harvest so special is that we really donate almost all of what we grow. While we do sell some of what we grow at our farm stand, the majority goes to local organizations like our food pantries and senior centers. When most people think of the  Hamptons, they think of wealth and luxury; however, there are a lot of people who live here that don’t have access to nutritious food. I think it’s really special that we are utilizing land that the town preserved to fight food insecurity in the beautiful community we are all so lucky to be a part of.

Is there anything else you would like to add about Share the Harvest Farm?

Meredith:  Share the Harvest is more than a farm — it’s a community effort powered by generosity, resilience, and the belief that fresh food should be accessible to all. We’re constantly inspired by the people who support our mission — from volunteers to donors to our community partners. The need is very real, and growing — but so is our impact. We’re grateful to be part of  an organization that’s rooted in kindness and committed to feeding our neighbors, year after year.

For more info, visit Sharetheharvestfarm.org