Program on Advancing Local Foods April 19 at State Fairgrounds

A program titled "Improving Our Local Food System" is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 in the Empire Room at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Anyone from farmers, processors, distributors, community partners, educators or policymakers should come to talk about how to advance the local food system in Central New York.

The program will consist of three panelist discussions on the topics of Food Distribution Models, the Emerging Brewing Industry and Accessing New Markets. Through this collaborative effort, all sections of our local food system will be brought together for an opportunity to learn, connect, share, and collaborate.

There is no fee to attend. To register,go to www.cceonondaga.org/events

New Food Processor Job To Bring More Local Foods to School Cafeterias

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news05/new-food-processor-job-created-to-bring-more-local-food-to-school-cafeterias-20180405 to check out the story.

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.  

Local Producers Can Taste Test Products at Fort Drum Commissary

Here is some important information from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County:

Are you a producer trying to market a value added product? 

As part of the Food Hub Initiative Cornell Cooperative Extension and Food Venture Advisors (FVA) invite you to participate in a taste-testing of your product to a potentially significant market – Military Commissaries in the North East.

Northern New York producers making/marketing eligible products will lead the way by showcasing their value added foods at a taste testing in the Fort Drum Commissary from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17.

Food Venture Advisors is searching for high quality, value added products that can meet required year round quantity and food safety standards and which contain mostly locally produced ingredients.  Producers will be asked to supply samples of their products to FVA.   

Samples should be delivered to CCE – Jefferson no later than Nov. 1. Examples of value added products include locally produced cheeses, pickled vegetables, jams, jellies, meat jerky, mustards etc. 

Producers with products that meet the criteria will be notified and should deliver their samples and for-sale products to the FVA warehouse at 200 Howk St., Watertown on Nov. 14. 

Products will be evaluated to ensure the product meets required quality, ingredients, packaging, production history, estimated capacity, etc.  

On the day of the event, FVA will transport all products to the Commissary in refrigerated vehicles.   Any unused products can be returned to CCE Jefferson office for producers to pick up after the event.   

Producers are invited to attend and participate at the event and will be carpooled onto the Fort from CCE – Jefferson Office starting at 9 a.m. Producers will be allowed to sell their product during the tasting. However, samples are not reimbursable. 

Please bring your own sample spoons, cups, napkins, plates, signage, etc. The Commissary will provide: tables, trash, staff and marketing.

Products which attract significant interest at the event will be selected by the Commissary staff.  Selected products will be stocked on a limited basis and distributed by FVA to the Fort Drum Commissary.   

Note: as with any retail opportunity distribution fees and retail markups apply. However, Commissaries generally mark up products only 5 percent. 

For more information contact Remy Cline at (315) 789-0042.

Locally Grown Produce on the Salad Bar at Watertown School

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/salad-bar-pilot-program-implemented-at-wiley-intermediate-school-20171007 to check out the story.

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Benefits Available Now

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program benefits are now available for eligible families and seniors across the state. 

The program provides checks to be redeemed at participating farmers' markets and farm stands now through the end of November for the purchase of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. 

In addition, eligible New Yorkers can use their checks at even more farm stands this year. The number of farm stands participating in the program has nearly doubled in two years, from 40 in 2015 to 77 so far this year.

"Increasing awareness and accessibility to healthy, nutritious food is critical to the health and well being of families across the state," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "When New Yorkers eat fresh, local produce, it not only makes for healthier communities, but spurs the state's agricultural industry, creating a stronger New York for all."

Farmers Market Nutrition Program 

A total of $6 million in FMNP benefits are available to families through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. 

About 250,000 booklets consisting of six $4.00 checks, or a total of $24, will be distributed this year, allowing for the purchase of fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables from over 900 farmers vending at over 600 farmers' markets and farm stands across the state.

Checks are available to eligible families at nearly 400 sites across New York State and at WIC clinic locations. A pocket folder with instructions on how and where to use the checks to purchase fresh, local fruits and vegetables from farmers at the market will be included with each booklet. 

Checks can be used at participating farmers' markets and farm stands through November 30 of this year.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The $2.5 million Senior FMNP provides checks to eligible individuals age 60 and older to purchase $20 worth of produce. Program benefits are provided on an individual basis instead of per household, also expanding the reach of the program to older New Yorkers. 

 

In upstate communities, checks are now available at county Offices for the Aging.

Eligible recipients must be age 60 or older and meet the income eligibility requirement$1,860 or less per month for a single or $2,504 per month for a couple — or affirm that they are currently receiving or eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income, or public assistance or Section 8 housing subsidy. Recipients cannot have received Farmers' Market Nutrition Program checks from any other location this season.

The Senior and WIC FMNP are administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in cooperation with the state Office for the Aging and the state Department of Health. The programs are funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and New York state. Nutrition education is provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Farm Bureau Foundation Produces Video Series on Buying Local

The New York Farm Bureau Foundation has a new project that will bring consumers closer to the farmers who produce their food. 

It is launching a new video series entitled “Meet Your Farmer” that the public can view online through the Foundation’s YouTube and social media pages. Links are available on the Foundation’s website at nyfbfoundation.org

The website has also been updated to be smartphone friendly for people looking to view the series on a mobile device or tablet. The Foundation will also include QR codes on its educational brochures and calendar that will increase the accessibility for viewers to watch the videos.

The videos feature New York farm families talking about their farms and their passion for growing food and caring for their land and animals. The project fits into the Foundation’s mission of sowing the seeds of understanding to educate the public about modern day agriculture.

The first farms to be showcased in the series include CY Farms in Elba, NY, McCormick Farms in Bliss, NY, and Orbaker’s Fruit Farm in Williamson, NY. The Foundation will soon add more farms to this ongoing project.

“The New York Farm Bureau Foundation reaches thousands of children and adults every year through its educational programming, and we are pleased to continue telling the stories of New York’s family farms through this new video series," said Farm Bureau President and Foundation Chair David Fisher. 

"It is more important than ever that farmers share what they do and engage with the public to clear up any misunderstanding people may have about agriculture,” said Fisher.

New York Farm Bureau Foundation’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCZaYUrOwLZ52h7joV359Yg

In 'Local Food' Excitement, What Happened to Dairy Farmers?

Check this out https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/33723/20170412/in-local-food-excitement-what-happened-to-dairy-farmers from North Country Public Radio.

Farm Bureau Seeks Passage of Farm to Food Bank Bill

Go to https://www.facebook.com/NYFarmBureau/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf to check out a video on the Farm to Food Bank bill.

Scientist Moms Avoid Non-GMO Products

A great read!

Go to https://medium.com/@BioChicaGMO/were-scientists-we-re-moms-and-we-avoid-non-gmo-products-33bc0aa351a3#.8pqj9ydvj to check out this story.

Agriculture Has a Communications Issue

Even though this is from an Indiana publication, it holds true in New York state too.

Check it out https://www.hoosieragtoday.com/agriculture-has-a-communications-issue/ at this link.

Farming A Business for Those With Experience

Nice read from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County.

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/unknown/how-to-get-into-farming-and-out-of-a-food-desert-20161203 to check out the story.

'Fall Into Farm-to-School' Campaign Begins in NYS

From the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball on Thursday Oct. 6 announced the ‘Fall into Farm-to-School’ campaign to encourage school districts across New York state to participate in the Farm-to-School program, which helps schools buy and serve locally-grown and produced foods on school menus. 

Throughout the month of October, schools are encouraged to learn more about starting the program in their district through the Farm-to-School website and related resources found http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/Press%20Releases/HOM_Toolkit.pdf, http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school and http://www.farmtoschool.org/. 

Districts already participating in the program are encouraged to share how they are celebrating Farm-to-School Month using the #FallintoF2S on social media.

Farm to You Fest

Farm-to-School Month is highlighted by the annual Farm to You Fest held Oct. 3 to 8. 

Farm to You Fest is a week-long annual celebration of local food and agriculture. During the promotion, school officials, parents, nutritionists, farmers and others are encouraged to organize fun and educational activities focused on New York agriculture. 

To celebrate, many schools feature New York farm products on their school lunch menus, hold taste tests of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, take field trips to nearby farms, conduct hands-on cooking demonstrations using local ingredients, and much more.  

New York State Farm-to-School Efforts

New York state’s Farm-to-School program is aimed at developing and strengthening relationships between farmers and schools to increase the amount of New York-made products offered to students and to expand markets for local farmers. 

The program also looks to educate students about New York’s specialty crops and increase their preference for these healthy meal options.

Since 2015, New York state has provided $850,000 for its Farm-to-School grant program, including $500,000 announced this past September, a nearly 43 percent increase over last year. 

Kindergarten through grade 12 school food authorities, charter schools, nonprofit schools, other nonprofit entities and Indian Tribal Organizations may apply for this funding to increase their use of homegrown specialty crops. 

Last year, six Farm-to-School programs in the state were awarded funds, benefiting 45 school districts and thousands of students. The funding helped the districts employ local or regional Farm-to-School coordinators, purchase equipment needed to increase the capacity of the school kitchen and food service staff, and make capital improvements to better transport and/or store those crops. 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average New York State school district spends 11 percent of its budget on local foods. To date, those schools have invested more than $45 million, with the majority being used to buy New York fruits, vegetables, and milk.

The New York State Office of General Services also recently announced that school districts across the state have made a commitment to dedicate at least $2.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds toward the federal agency’s Pilot Project for the Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetables during the 2016-17 school year. 

This investment represents a 400 percent increase over the $500,000 commitment by schools in 2015-16.

 
The state has also been a key partner in the New York Thursdays program, a new approach to bringing locally grown or produced foods directly to students in New York City Department of Education schools every Thursday. 

Part of a nationwide initiative being spearheaded by the Urban School Food Alliance, New York Thursdays boosts student health and education, while improving the district’s budget, strengthening the local agricultural economy, and cutting carbon emissions. 

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets is working to bring a similar program to schools throughout the state. 

Deadline Approaches for Food and Farm Experience Applications

The July 15 deadline is quickly approaching for middle and high school career counselors to submit an application for the 2016 Food and Farm Experience, presented by New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education.

The two-day event is an annual summit focusing on learning about agriculture and making connections with a full array of people connected to farming and food production. 

This year’s in-depth experience is geared towards those involved in middle and high school career exploration and development. It will connect participants to an industry that offers more than 300 ag-related career opportunities.  

The participants will meet with industry experts, employers, and post-secondary educators. Participants will be selected via nomination /application, with a goal to develop extensive agricultural understanding, networking and connections. 

Food and Farm Experience will be packed with essential and useful information about agriculture for a focused group of 35 career educators. The materials provided will include the tools, resources and connections needed to assist their students who may be interested in agricultural careers.  

Participants will visit a variety of stops over the two days, from farm to fork, in addition to interactive workshops and panel discussions to get a feel for the multitude of career opportunities available in the agricultural industry. 

The 2016 Food & Farm Experience is:
A two-day program for 25 to 35 target group members – starting with a reception and dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Batavia. 
The Food and Farm Experience will include tours, panel discussions and more before winding down at noon Friday, Oct. 21 with a trade show of agricultural education and career opportunities.

An application is necessary for inclusion in the annual Food & Farm Experience. 

Food, lodging, and workshop material costs are covered. 

Deadline for applications is July 15, postmarked or electronic submission

Interested in attending the 2016 Food & Farm Experience or know someone to nominate?  Contact New York Farm Bureau’s Foundation for Agricultural Education at 1-800-342-4143. 
More information is available at www.nyfbfoundation.org

Meet the Farmer Dinner June 30

Meet the Farmer Dinner in Broome County is Thursday.

Fancy Foods Show Going on Now in NYC

The “Taste NY Pavilion” has been expanded at the 2016 Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.  

This is the fourth year Taste NY has participated in the food show. This year, more than 50 New York state food and beverage companies will sample products in the Pavilion, while some 275 additional New York state companies will exhibit at this year’s overall show. 

Now in its 62nd year, the Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food trade event in North America and runs from June 26 - 28 at Javits Center.

 

“The Summer Fancy Food Show, which brings together thousands of top industry professionals from all across the globe, is a tremendous opportunity to showcase some of New York’s finest agricultural products," said Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.

“By meeting in the world’s largest marketplace under the Taste NY Pavilion, our producers have the chance to connect to new buyers and distributors and bring attention to the best and newest innovations in New York’s specialty and gourmet foods and beverages.”

 

This three day, industry-only event draws more than 46,000 industry professionals.

 It brings together specialty food and beverage producers from around the world with the goal of linking them to a network of distributers and buyers from independent gourmet shops, high-end multiple location retailers, major department stores and specialty merchandisers looking for the very best and newest innovations in specialty and gourmet foods and beverages. 

 

The “Taste NY Pavilion” will be located on the Level 1 show floor. A list of companies featured in the pavilion can be found http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/Press%20Releases/20160623_Taste_NY_Pavilion_Exhibitor.pdf at this link.

Two Ag Bills Pass NYS Senate

From state Sen. Patricia Ritchie:

Two bills that will make entering into farming easier for people new to the profession, boost business for existing farmers and connect consumers with more New York-grown and produced foods have passed the state Senate. 

The first measure, Senate bill 6648, also known as the “Buy From the Backyard Act,” would require state agencies to buy 20 percent of all their food products from producers and processors in New York state. The measure is seen as a way to get more locally grown and produced foods in our state’s hospitals, colleges, offices, prisons and other places, as well as to support local farmers.

Ritchie

Under the second measure, Senate bill 7011-A, the state would be required to develop an inventory of state-owned property that’s prime for agricultural development, making it easier for those new to the industry to access land that’s ready to be farmed. The measure is now headed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk to become law.

“This year we have made great strides in not only strengthening the connection between consumers who are increasingly looking to eat local — and healthy — foods, but also in fostering new opportunities for people who are looking to enter into agriculture careers and produce the nutritious fruits, vegetables and other products people depend on,” said the bills' sponsor, state Sen. Patty  Ritchie.

“These measures take us closer to our goals of strengthening New York’s leading industry, and providing a boost for farmers — both new and experienced — across our state.”

As Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, Ritchie has been focused in recent years on making New York-grown and produced foods more accessible to consumers, as well as to encourage state agencies to increase their use. 

Providing new farmers with the tools and resources needed to be successful has also been a priority of Ritchie’s, and through her “Young Farmers NY” program, those new to the profession are benefiting from grants, a loan forgiveness program and other incentives that are helping them to begin and strengthen their agribusinesses.