Taste NY Sales Continue to Grow

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo:

Taste NY sales continued to increase in 2017, growing to a record $16.1 million. 

Total gross sales of New York products from Taste NY stores, cafés, bars, concessions and events topped last year's sales totals by $3 million. The significant year-over-year growth reflects increasing consumer demand for local food and beverage products, which supports New York's agricultural and tourism industries. 

 
The Taste NY initiative has seen steady growth and recognition since it was created in 2013. The program reported sales of $1.5 million in 2014, tripled those figures to $4.5 million in 2015, and $13.1 million in 2016. 

The exposure from Taste NY has helped the farms and companies participating in the program to reach more customers, increase online sales, and, in many cases, expand the processing capacity of their business. 

Taste NY's food and beverage businesses also support the state's farmers by using New York grown and produced ingredients in their products.

 
In the past year, Taste NY made products available at 13 new locations and participated in major, large events, such as The Northern Trust and the New York City Marathon. 

As part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's vision to construct a state-of-the-art Welcome Center in each region of the state, Taste NY is promoting local products at the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, New York City and Central New York Welcome Centers, in addition to the Long Island Welcome Center that opened in 2016.

 

In 2017, Taste NY opened concessions in six additional state parks, bringing high-quality New York food and beverage products to park visitors. Guests can now find New York made food and drinks at a total of 10 properties, including Olana State Historic Site, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Jones Beach State Park, and Niagara Falls State Park. 

Together, parks selling local Taste NY food and beverages draw nearly 30 million visitors annually.  

In addition, last year, Taste NY launched the state's first-ever Taste NY Craft Beverage Week in New York City, hosted the Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge with celebrity and professional judges, and held the Taste NY Food Truck Competition and first-annual Craft Beer Competition at the Great New York State Fair.

 

A complete list of Taste NY locations can be found at this link  www.taste.ny.gov  The 2017 Taste NY annual report is available at this link https://www.ny.gov/sites/ny.gov/files/atoms/files/2017_TasteNY_ImpactReport.pdf

 
To build on the success of 2017 and further connect New York producers to new markets, Cuomo's 2018-2019 Executive Budget proposes additional support for Taste NY. 

This year, the Department of Agriculture and Markets will identify 10 core food and beverage categories that will be highlighted in New York's regional Welcome Centers to further strengthen Taste NY branding and tell the exciting stories behind New York's businesses. 

The department will also coordinate with other state agencies on possible new Taste NY locations as infrastructure projects are developed across the state, including the reconstruction of train stations and airports.

 

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture and Markets will host five regional Business-to-Business Taste NY Networking events to connect New York farms, food and beverage businesses with buyers from institutions, retail locations, restaurants, bars, and distributors.

 

The Taste NY website, www.taste.ny.gov, will also be transformed to operate as a one-stop resource for residents, visitors and businesses. 

The website's presentation, functionality and resources will be improved to provide better information on New York's agri-tourism destinations and better connect New York's producers to new markets.

"Taste NY has put local products on the map, boosting tourism, helping local craft breweries, wineries, distilleries and cideries grow, and increasing opportunities for producers in every corner of this great state," Cuomo said. 

"By connecting consumers across the globe with fresh, locally-grown products, Taste NY continues to support the growth of farms and small businesses across New York," he said.  

NYS Offers Money for Farmland Protection Programs

A total of $5.5 million is available through two new grant opportunities to advance farmland protection efforts throughout the state. 

Both programs will help preserve viable farmland in agricultural production, protecting it from development and conversion to non-farm uses. 

The funding will also help farmers identify available land and expedite the process of permanently protecting agricultural properties through perpetual conservation easements. 

These new initiatives are the result of the Governor's pledge in his 2017 State of the State address to improve regional collaboration to enhance farmland conservation efforts statewide.  

"Agriculture remains a critically important part of New York's economy, and the protection and preservation of farmlands is crucial to the continued growth and future success of this industry," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "These new grant programs will help maintain the economic viability of our farms, preserve our agricultural landscape and help ensure the strength of our food supply for current and future generations of New Yorkers." 

Expanding New York's Farmland Protection Implementation Program

For the first time, the state's farmland protection program has been expanded to allow eligible applicants to implement an Option to Purchase a Perpetual Conservation Easement, also called an Option Agreement Project. 

This Option Agreement Project will lay the groundwork for landowners interested in permanently protecting their farms by pre-determining the value of development rights, which expedites the process when a formal application is submitted for the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement. 

This new initiative provides a total of $5 million to eligible applicants, including municipalities, counties, soil and water conservation districts and land trusts. Grants of up to $500,000 will be awarded to cover costs associated with obtaining and administering an Option Agreement Project.

All applicants must submit their proposals through Grants Gateway at  https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/IntelliGrants_NYSGG/module/nysgg/goportal.aspx?NavItem1=3 

Applications can be submitted starting today and will be accepted until the available funding is fully committed. 

More information about the application process is available on the Department of Agriculture and Markets website at  www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html. For questions, contact David Behm at David.Behm@agriculture.ny.gov

This new funding opportunity builds on the State's Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program, which helps cover the costs of buying a perpetual conservation easement, ensuring that valuable farmland remains in agricultural production forever. 

The state has revitalized this program and committed historic funding to safeguard one of its most vital resources. 

Since 2011, the state has invested more than $62 million in 82 conservation projects statewide. The 2017-18 State Budget includes another $20 million for the program and the governor proposed another $20 million for the program this week in his 2018-19 budget proposal.

Advancing Regional Farmland Conservation Strategies

The new $500,000 Land Trust Grants program was created to advance farmland protection strategies identified by counties and municipalities throughout the state. The program provides competitive grants of up to $50,000 to land trusts. 

The funding will help develop local inventories of viable farmland and inform landowners of programs and opportunities to protect their properties from conversion to non-farm uses.  It will also help expand outreach efforts to better connect willing landowners with farmers interested in leasing or buying their properties for agricultural production.

Applicants must apply through https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/IntelliGrants_NYSGG/module/nysgg/goportal.aspx?NavItem1=3 starting today through March 5, 2018.

More details on eligibility and the application process are available at https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html  or buy emailing Jeffrey Kehoe at jeffrey.kehoe@agriculture.ny.gov 

Improving Outreach to Enhance Farmland Protection

"Through Governor Cuomo's innovative strategies, we can eliminate some of the major barriers facing current and future farmers," said Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. "Access to land is one of the biggest hurdles. Without land, they can't farm and without farming, we have no food.  

"I am excited to implement these new opportunities to encourage conservation efforts and keep agricultural operations up and running for generations to come," Ball said..

Court Grants Farm Bureau's Request to Dismiss Collective Bargaining Lawsuit

Message from New York Farm Bureau

New York Farm Bureau learned today that Judge Richard McNally has granted farm bureau's request to dismiss the New York Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit that sought to create collective bargaining rights for farmworkers. 

The court’s decision is a major victory for New York’s family farms, said Farm Bureau President David Fisher.

"New York Farm Bureau argued in State Supreme Court in Albany, last July that our system of government requires that the legislature change state law, not the courts.   

The court agreed," Fisher said.

In his decision, Judge McNally wrote, “…the plaintiffs and the State have not demonstrated that the Labor Law statues are racially discriminatory or that farm workers are a suspect class entitled to constitutional protections. Any changes to the SERA (State Employee Relations Act) should emanate with the New York State Legislature as ‘the legislative power of this state shall be vested in the senate and the assembly.’”

The court previously granted New York Farm Bureau intervenor status in the lawsuit. "Our organization petitioned the court in 2016 to become a defendant only after the Governor and Attorney General refused to uphold and defend the State Labor Relations Act from the lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union," Fisher said.

New York Farm Bureau has long opposed farmworker collective bargaining for one simple reason. Farms do not have a standard eight-hour workday.  

Last year’s growing season demonstrated that. Weeks of heavy rains followed by shorter bouts of sunshine forced farmers and their employees to squeeze in weeks of work into just a few dry days. Work never stops inside the barn. For instance, cows need to be fed and milked multiple times every day, Fisher said.  

"A farmworker strike or confining work agreements could jeopardize a crop or the health of an animal. Everyone who works in farming understands this, including farmworkers," Fisher said. 

"Farmers have great respect for the people who they employ, and this court victory does not diminish that. They value their employees’ commitment, work ethic, and the partnership it takes to get the job done on the farm.

"New York Farm Bureau has represented farmers for more than a century, and today’s ruling will go down as another defining moment in Farm Bureau’s long history. 

New York Farm Bureau will always stand up for our members, either in court or at the Capitol, to ensure that their rights are protected and their voices are heard,” said Fisher.

New York's Melanie Wickham Receives National Award

Melanie Wickham, who is leaving the leadership of the Empire State Potato Growers, has received a national award.

Check it out at https://www.thepacker.com/article/new-york-leader-awarded-2017-potato-woman-all-seasons this link.

Congrats, Melanie.

Happy National Milk Day!!

It's National Milk Day!!

According to the National Day Calendar, National Milk Day commemorates the day that many think the first milk deliveries in glass bottles began in the United States.  

Alexander Campbell of the New York Dairy Co. professed to the New York State Senate that his company was the first to make these deliveries in 1878. 

Here is some milk trivia that you can share with your family and friends:
** Milk is a good source of calcium and many vitamins

Thatcher

** The first milk bottle was developed by a pharmacist from Potsdam, NY, Hervey Thatcher.

** The dairy industry is the largest part of New York's agriculture industry.

** Milk can come from other animals too, such as goats, sheep, reindeer, yaks and buffalo

**  The International Association of Milk Inspectors submitted a request to Congress in October of 1915 for a resolution naming an observance of National Milk Day.

So celebrate National Milk Day by having a big glass of milk or some other dairy product!!