Ag Literacy Week is March 19-23

This year's Ag Literacy Week book

Ag Literacy Week is March 19-23.

Second-graders throughout New York will read about what it takes to get food grown on the farm to the plates on their tables by reading a book called "Before We Eat -- From Farm to Table."

According to the Agriculture in the Classroom website, the book takes student on "the journey from farm to table to understand different aspects of agriculture and the many possible careers involved. This is a captivating glimpse on what it takes to bring the food we eat to us in order to nourish our bodies and spirits."

"From the busy hub of New York City, to the mountains of the Adirondacks, and to the fertility of the Finger Lakes our state is expansive and encompasses all types of agricultural industries," the website states. "Careers and post-secondary education opportunities are abundant in traditional and developing food-centric industries."

Agriculture in New York state brings in more than $37 billion to the economy. New York is known throughout the country as a leader in apples, maple syrup, yogurt, cottage cheese, grapes, onions and many other products.

"These products and industries create careers essential to the food system that are not always initially thought of: arborists, soil engineers, animal geneticists, butchers, aquaculturists, truck drivers, grocers and more," the Ag in the Classroom website states.