Community Development

Harvest: An RWJBarnabas Health Farm to Community Center is now OPEN!

Key Features:

• Farm-to-Table Distribution Center

• Buy Local

• Wellness Offices

• Teaching Kitchen

• Industrial Kitchen

• Hire Local

• Office & Meeting Space

UAC and partners, primarily Greater Newark Conservancy, help to create physical projects and infrastructure for a wide range of ecological uses including hydroponic and soil-based food growing, greenhouses, gardens and landscaping. 

Notable recent projects include Price Institute Rutgers-Newark Healing Garden, West Side High School Rider Farm, Hydroponics Lab at Lincoln Elementary, Pharos Charter School in Bronx, NY, Community Medical Center Garden in CMC Toms River.

In 2026, we are launching a Newark green land trust initiative with several collaborators that will transform vacant city stock into ecological spaces.

Along with our core team of full and part time specialists in the local food value-chain, UAC’s operations support an additional economic impact that has steadily grown since 2020. Second-level economic development impact includes:

• Steady part-time fair wage employment for warehouse associates

• Creating markets for third-party delivery drivers, local chefs, farmer’s market workers

• Retaining development, engineering, teaching and business consultants

• Purchasing from over 35 growers and makers, extending their ‘season’

• New paid apprentice programs serving high schoolers (in partnership with Newark Public Schools and Essex County Vo Tech)

Mr. Panasci regularly guest lectures on food system topics for college and graduate courses, high school groups, webinars, and partners as a community collaborator to university research projects. Additionally, the UAC team shares information via tabling, engagements, and requests on topics including markets, composting, marketing, design, and other related small ag business topics.