Stony Brook University to Lease Commercial Kitchen Space on Southampton Campus as Incubator Facility to Amagansett Food Institute (AFI)
Facility to be Available to Food Entrepreneurs and Farmers Around the Clock
STONY BROOK, NY April 14, 2014 – Stony Brook University will begin leasing the commercial kitchen in the Student Center of its Southampton campus to the Amagansett Food Institute (AFI) which will operate the space as a business incubator beginning effective immediately. The incubator, known as South Fork Kitchens, will provide local food businesses including farms with access to a commercial kitchen as well as business planning and development services.
In addition, storage space for ingredients, finished products and an on-site chef will be available to process produce for added value and will operate a “farm to table” café which will provide food for students, staff and campus visitors as well as educate guests on the benefits and challenges of eating locally and in season.
AFI will operate the kitchen on a full-time basis with staff in compliance with state and local regulations as well as certification from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. There will also be staff to receive deliveries on behalf of incubator clients. The kitchen will be available for rental in blocks of time around the clock.
“We are pleased to provide the space for AFI’s incubator and help foster economic growth on our Southampton campus,” said Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. “Local farmers and food preparation entrepreneurs on the South Fork will benefit extensively by having a facility of this type available locally.”
Kathleen A. Masters, AFI Executive Director will oversee the facility and will be joined by Carissa Waechter of Carissa’s Breads as Coordinator and Chef.
“AFI is grateful to Stony Brook University for making this wonderful facility available to South Fork Kitchens,” said Masters. “By providing a home for local food production the incubator will increase access by local residents to great local food products and will support and sustain economic development on the East End. We are delighted to be at Stony Brook Southampton.”
“This kind of regional offering is extraordinary because of the boon it will offer local growers and the food industry in and around the Stony Brook University’s Southampton Campus,” said Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor). “I applaud this collaboration and the example it sets for the community.”
Stony Brook Southampton is located at 239 Montauk Highway in Southampton, NY.
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Part of the State University of New York system, Stony Brook University encompasses 200 buildings on 1,450 acres. Since welcoming its first incoming class in 1957, the University has grown tremendously, now with more than 24,000 students and 2,200 faculty. Its membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) places Stony Brook among the top 62 research institutions in North America. U.S. News & World Report ranks Stony Brook among the top 40 public universities in the nation and Kiplinger named it the 29th best value in public colleges for in-state students and 20th for out-of-state students. One of four University Center campuses in the SUNY system, Stony Brook University co-manages Brookhaven National Laboratory, putting it in an elite group of universities that run federal research and development laboratories. Stony Brook is ranked in the top 1 percent of the world’s higher education institutions by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It is one of the top 100 universities in the nation and one of the top 35 public universities as determined by U.S. News & World Report. It was recently ranked one of the 30 best values in public colleges and universities by Kiplinger and is one of only 10 universities nationwide recognized by the National Science Foundation for combining research with undergraduate education. As the largest single-site employer on Long Island, Stony Brook is a driving force of the regional economy, with an annual economic impact of $4.65 billion, generating nearly 60,000 jobs, and accounts for nearly 4 percent of all economic activity in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and roughly 7.5 percent of total jobs in Suffolk County.
The Amagansett Food Institute (AFI) is a 501 © (3) non-profit with the mission of supporting the farmers, fishers, vintners and food producers of the East End of Long Island as we work together to make long term changes in our local food system. We envision the East End as a place where all local farms and food business are thriving and supported by an engaged community whose members understand the benefits of local food.
Reporter Contact:
Alida Almonte
University Media Relations Manager
631-632-6310
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