Cornell Cooperative Extension Welcomes Linnea Haskin

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (January 8, 2024) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Nutrition Program is excited to announce Linnea Haskin has joined our organization as a Food Resource Educator.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County has a rich and diverse history of supporting the food system in Chautauqua County and throughout the region. From supporting producers to educating consumers there are few areas of the Food System not touched by CCE Programming. CCE is also known for its ability to connect and collaborate with the various organizations in the county successfully serving the needs of residents. This expansion of capacity for CCE hopes to increase the collaboration abilities of the Chautauqua County Food System. The current position is funded through the Department of Ag and Markets, NY Food for NY Families grant. Linnea will assist in the oversight of those funds and coordinate the distribution of the locally produced food to our community.

A native of Frewsburg, NY, Linnea Haskin has worked and volunteered in various capacities across the Chautauqua County food system. Following her graduation from Fordham University with a Master of Social Work, she worked with the Salvation Army to establish a food pantry program in Dunkirk, collaborating with a variety of community programs and services. She also spent time with the Chautauqua Health Network as the Building Healthy Communities Coordinator, partnering with six county school districts and municipalities to implement healthy eating and complete street policies. For the past six years she has managed the Jamestown Public Market and its programs, including overseeing the establishment of the Jamestown Mobile Market, a local food access program that reaches over 600 individuals per year. In addition, she served three terms as Chair of the Chautauqua County Food Policy Council and is currently a member of the Regional Leadership Team under the Food Future WNY Initiative. She loves to spend time with her friends volunteering at the Fredonia Farmers Market, as well as tend to her garden. She is a Master Preserver and enjoys finding ways to both preserve and cook with locally grown produce. Her passion for food systems began in 2015, when as a grad student receiving SNAP benefits she discovered the joys of local farms and markets, particularly those that have expanded access for the most vulnerable of our communities. She resides in Jamestown, NY with her husband and five cats.

Linnea is excited to take her food systems background and connections to her new role under the “Grow Chautauqua Food System Program”, directly addressing food security concerns prevalent throughout the county. The program, funded under the NY Food for NY Families program, will include implementation of several food distribution events across Chautauqua County, working directly with local farmers, dairy producers, and other NYS ag producers to procure product. Partnerships under the program include Brigiotta’s Farmland Produce, who has agreed to be a lead partner in packaging all NYS food, as well as Office of the Aging; St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Grow Jamestown programs; Rural Ministries of Dunkirk; and Five Loves + 20 Fish ministries.

The Nutrition Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated January 8, 2024