Harbor Harvest in East Norwalk celebrates its first year anniversary providing farm-to-table local sustainable products on October 22. The market continues to source fresh produce, dairy and meats from farmers and vendors in Connecticut and New York.

In line with their disruptive sustainability mission, co-owners Bob Kunkel and Ernie Marsan are announcing the start of the second phase of their boatbuilding and local delivery service project: the development of an emissions-free, sustainable water-borne transportation system capable of delivering local farm products between food hubs located along the Connecticut and Long Island coasts. The U.S Department of Transportation and Maritime Administration requested that Harbor Harvest enter the American Marine Highway program to seek a regional route designation. In doing so, Harbor Harvest (HarborHarvest.com) would gain access to potential federal grants to support their sustainability effort. The overall goals of the program are to reduce landside congestion for public benefit and increase utilization of U.S. freight and/or passenger transportation.

  Working with the Federal Maritime Administration, Long Island Sound has been designated as Marine Highway 295 while the Mid Hudson Valley and Hudson River in New York have been designated as Marine Highway 87. The new Harbor Harvest Marine Highway project will support the family farms in both these areas by delivering products across Long Island Sound on their new hybrid propulsion vessels.

Through Alternative Marine Technologies (AlternativeMarineTech.com), Kunkel’s Stamford-based ship construction and design company, he is creating a lithium-powered, refrigerated boat to travel the newly designated local water highways as a more sustainable and efficient option that cuts down on lengthy land delivery times caused by congestion and longer highway distances.

Wild Carrots, a farm in Litchfield, is the latest local supplier of organic produce introduced to Harbor Harvest shoppers. A sweet tooth can also be satisfied as the store has been chosen by chocolatier Fritz Knipschildt for Chocopologie’s local retail sales.

Location: Harbor Harvest, 7 Cove Ave, Norwalk. See ad, page 51.