North Fork app FarmScout adds search for veteran-owned farms
Shoppers looking to support veteran-owned farms can now find them with a tap on the FarmScout app created by a North Fork mother and son.
The brainchild of Heather Spinelli and her 12-year-old son, Luca, FarmScout has added the option to its nationwide directory of farms, farm stands and agricultural events as the nation pays tribute to those who served.
The new category includes Cutchogue-based Davy Jones Shellfish Co., launched nearly five years ago by U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Jacob Feibusch.
The 27-year-old oyster farmer grew up in Kings Park and has been involved in the industry for much of his life, working on commercial fishing boats and running his own commercial towboat. He also has a background in free-diving for oysters.
Mr. Feibusch — who tied the knot last Sunday through Peconic Landing’s free Veterans Day Wedding Giveback — had come across the FarmScout Instagram account a couple of times before following the page. That opened the door for business, as Ms. Spinelli sent Mr. Feibusch a message on Instagram.
“We’re proud to be on there as part of the app,” said Mr. Feibusch, who serves on the board of directors for the Long Island Farm Bureau. “I think it’s a great thing, how they’re trying to bring more visibility to small businesses and local farms. People bring [the app] up to us very frequently.”
Mike Miezianka, the president of the New York chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition and co-founder of Toasted Oysters in Bayshore, had recently reached out to Ms. Spinelli about adding a veteran feature to the app. The two soon began their partnership.
“Heather was gracious enough to create a button on the app, where we can select veteran-owned farms,” Mr. Miezianka said.
He said the coalition is encouraging its members to claim their farms on the app, where they can update product listings to reflect what is available from day to day.
Luca also urged his mother to add shortcut buttons. Users can select categories such as organic, veteran-owned and u-pick, then view matching farms on the map.
The connection to veterans was a natural fit for Ms. Spinelli, whose family splits her time between Cutchogue and New York City. Her dad, John Vicari, served in the Air Force. Her grandfather, William Matthews, initially joined the Merchant Marine at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, with some friends before entering the Navy at 17. His brothers were already serving in the Navy. Mr. Matthews died in 2007 at 79 and is buried at Calverton National Cemetery.
“I always want to help,” Ms. Spinelli said. “I have a ton of veterans in my family. This is something I would love to do — get more people a part of this and support them.”
Searching for farms and using the map are free, as are basic listings for farmers. An optional Pro subscription costs $4.99 monthly or $14.99 annually, Ms. Spinelli said. The app is also now available on Android.
FarmScout has more than 14,000 listings nationwide, including farm stands, orchards, vineyards, oyster farms and farmers markets, Ms. Spinelli said. Farmers don’t need to sign up for their operations to appear.
New York has around 2,470 listings, followed by Florida with roughly 1,345 and California with about 1,270, she said. Since the app launched in May, it has eclipsed 3,000 downloads, according to Ms. Spinelli.
“I’ve gotten more downloads since it’s been free,” she said.
Ms. Spinelli also noticed that many farmers had outdated websites or none at all, prompting her to expand FarmScout’s services.
As of the first week of November, Ms. Spinelli is offering website building. She charges $99 a year to add four photos to a farm’s app listing, or $250 annually to create a farm page on the FarmScout website. Ms. Spinelli said the farm page includes up to 10 photos, the farm’s logo and links to its social media accounts. Standard listings remain free, according to the company’s website.
“One farmer told me they paid $5,000 for a website and are charged $350 for every change they need thereafter,” Ms. Spinelli said. “That’s insane.”
Mr. Miezianka — who served in the Navy Reserve from 2009 to 2017 and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011 as an expeditionary warfare intelligence specialist — said farming can offer an outlet for some veterans coping with mental health issues.
“Farming or agriculture in general is a way that veterans who may have certain mental health illnesses can indulge in getting their hands in the environment, which provides a therapeutic type of atmosphere,” he said. “When you’re farming, you are providing food for your community, which also provides a sense of purpose outside of the military structure.”
