Gillibrand Hosts New York Farm Day

This news is from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., will host the 12th annual “New York Farm Day” on at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Russell Senate Office Building's Kennedy Caucus Room.

Farm Day brings together producers of New York’s award-winning wines, farm-fresh products and seafood, as well as leading restaurateurs from across New York State to showcase some of New York’s very best in Washington, D.C.

“I’m proud to continue the Farm Day tradition in Washington, DC,” Gillibrand said. “As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I am focused on improving the health of our economy and the health of our families.

"From rising childhood obesity and outdated nutritional standards to the economic crisis facing our dairy farmers and specialty crop farmers, agriculture issues in Washington affect families in every corner of New York. Strengthening our agricultural sector and promoting good nutrition for New Yorkers are essential to our long-term health and economic growth,” she said.

“New York Farm Day is a tasteful and effective way to educate policy makers that New York is a major farm state, and that agricultural is a major part of the state economy,” said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation.

“The grape, grape juice and wine industry now has production facilities in 53 of New York State’s 62 counties, and generates over $3.7 billion in economic benefits annually," Trezise said. "Our ability to grow and contribute even more depends on the business climate, which is shaped by public policy, so we thank Senator Gillibrand for hosting this immensely popular and effective event.”

Gillibrand is the first New York senator in nearly 40 years to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. In  her four years on the committee, Gillibrand traveled across New York state, visiting farms and holding listening sessions to hear concerns and ideas straight from farm communities with the most at stake in the Farm Bill.

The Senate Farm Bill included a number of provisions Gillibrand fought hard to strengthen, including specialty crops, expanding rural broadband, reform of dairy pricing, expanding markets, increasing access to capital and extending disaster relief to commercial fishermen, and other important measures. 

To see a list of which New York farms or businesses are presenting at Farm Day, go to https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=14127c71b03f64b8&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui%3D2%26ik%3Dce9dcad029%26view%3Datt%26th%3D14127c71b03f64b8%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbScmrp4_9eOWxwN2ACXinFm5aseCA