Legislators’ Produce Distribution Event a Success

NORTH BRANFORD—A handful of state representatives from around the region worked together last week to deliver 1,200 boxes of fresh produce to residents of their communities.

State Rep. Vincent Candelora worked with Cecarelli’s Harrison Hill Farm in Northford to supply the produce, and Candelora then pulled in House of Representatives colleagues Noreen Kokoruda, Joe Zullo, Craig Fishbein, and Dave Yaccarino to help distribute the fruits and veggies.

The free boxes distributed by the legislators on Aug. 28 contained corn, eggplant, tomatoes, lettuce, squash, cucumbers, zucchini, and even a watermelon.

It was the state legislators’ second attempt at holding a produce distribution event at the Connecticut Sportsplex. Logistical problems caused by Tropical Storm Isaias forced them to cancel their original session. Bad weather threatened the rescheduled event, too, with a powerful storm ripping across the region hours before the first truckload of produce arrived.

Many roads around the area were closed due to downed limbs and utility poles, and distribution of the produce started slowly. But traffic picked up in the afternoon as word was passed around that the event was still on despite the heavy blow delivered by the fast-moving storm.

Zullo (R-99) provided a food pantry in his home town, East Haven, with four dozen boxes, and Kokoruda, Fishbein (R-90) and Yaccarino (R-87) brought produce back to their communities.