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

Market Your Products to Customers Subject of Thursday Forum

From the office of state Sen. Patty Ritchie:

State Sen. Patty Ritchie is encouraging those in the food, beverage and agriculture industries from throughout Central and Northern New York to attend a free event that will help connect them to resources that will help grow their businesses. 

Sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Empire State Development, state Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell University Cooperative Extension, “Access to Capital” will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 25 at Jefferson Community College in Watertown. 

Participants will get an inside perspective from experts and lenders during three different panel discussions on a variety of topics, including financing, lending, alternatives to traditional bank loans and access to training and technical assistance.

“This event is the perfect way for those in agriculture-focused industries to learn about the tools and assistance available to them to help their business grow,” said Ritchie, who serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “I encourage anyone who is just starting out, or looking to expand their business to attend this event.”

“Access to Capital” will take place at the Jules Center Amphitheater, located at Jefferson Community College. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to attendees.  

Following lunch will be a “resource expo,” featuring nearly 20 participants from local, state and national organizations, including area banks, the USDA, Cornell Cooperative Extension Association and the Development Authority of the North Country.

Registration is required.  To do so, go to www.ritchie.nysenate.gov this link.

Marketing on the Internet Focus of Cooperative Extension Workshops

Workshops titled Internet Marketing 101 and 102 are being offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 at the Fulton campus of Cayuga Community College, computer lab F162.

Farmers will learn how to connect with customers and potential customers online by improving their farms web presence.

Two workshops are being offered. In the morning session, farmers will learn how to build and launch a farm website. In the afternoon, the focus will be on social media platforms to promote a farm operation. 

Producers can choose to come to one workshop or both. The first workshop is 10 a.m. to noon and the afternoon one is 1 to 3 p.m.

The cost for one workshop is $15 or or two for $30. Register by April 20 by calling 963-7286. Space is limited.

Program on Improving Farm Websites Set for Feb. 4

A program on how to improve your farm's web presence is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 4 at the SUNY Oswego Phoenix Center, 70 County Route 59, Schroeppel.

The program, titled "Improving Your Farm's Web Presence," will show attendees how to create or improve their web presence for their agriculture business. 

The three main topics that will be covered are: how to create and publish a website, or perhaps improve an existing one; how to interact with social media sites like Facebook or YouTube; and what web applications are out there for farms to connect with buyers.

“Having a web presence is an essential part of marketing in this day and age” stated Lynnette Wright, Agriculture Economic Development Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Oswego County. She continued “This workshop will help farmers understand how to use social media sites like Facebook, as well the essentials of website design and content.”

The price of the workshop is $15. Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required. To register please call 963.7286 or send payment to CCE of Oswego County, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114. Registrations are due by Jan. 31 and space is limited so reserve your spot today!

Farm Bill Will Help Growth of Marketing Opportunities for Agriculture

A weekly column by Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack:

One very important reason for Congress to expedite work toward a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill is to continue today’s rapid growth in local and regional marketing opportunities for American agriculture.

From local farmers markets to regional food hubs, these new opportunities benefit a wide range of Americans from all walks of life.

They benefit farmers and ranchers who are looking to start selling locally or scale up to regional sales. Farmers markets and regional food hubs have a particularly positive impact for small and limited-resource producers.

Sales of local foods are growing rapidly, creating a multibillion-dollar market opportunity for producers.

Local markets also have an impact on our work to bring folks into the business of agriculture. As the average age of the American farmer increases, we need more new folks on the farm. Local and regional markets help these new farmers – who include returning veterans, immigrants and more women than ever before – get started and sell their product.

American families interested in buying local benefit as well. Under the Obama Administration, we have helped to create more than 2,800 new farmers markets that give families additional options in buying local foods.

In many areas of high poverty, low food security or limited access to healthy, fresh produce, farmers markets provide low-income parents with an important way to put healthy food on the plate for their families.

By more than doubling the availability of EBT technology in farmers markets – and supporting more than 450 projects to help farmers markets expand and grow – USDA has focused on amplifying these benefits for families.

Schools and school districts are working harder than ever to source their food locally and provide healthy meals at school – ultimately benefiting our young people. 

Across the nation, USDA is working with school districts under our Farm to School program, helping districts establish relationships with producers. During the 2011-2012 school year, school districts purchased and served more than $350 million in local foods – and that number is set to grow as we undertake even more efforts to support Farm to School projects.

To help show the rapid growth of the local food market across the nation, USDA created the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass – an online tool illustrating the many places USDA has supported these opportunities nationwide.

Local and regional marketing opportunities hold great promise for folks across the nation. They’re helping our producers grow and thrive. They’re bringing fresh foods to underserved areas. They’re helping our kids get good nutrition at school.

USDA intends to continue our record support for these markets – but to do so, we need a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible. 

A new Farm Bill would enable our continued efforts to expand farmers markets and food hubs, while expanding healthy food access for low-income Americans and kids in our schools. All of these efforts would benefit the rural economy, while helping to achieve new opportunity in agriculture in the years to come.

USDA Officials Talk Growth in Ag Marketing Opportunities

From the USDA:

Monday, Nov. 18, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined Farmer Veteran Coalition Executive Director Michael O’Gorman and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer to highlight the rapid growth of local and regional marketing opportunities in American agriculture.

Local and regional markets provide new opportunity in agriculture and expanded availability of fresh, local foods for all Americans. Link to today’s call: here

Local and regional markets also provide a unique opportunity to help America’s returned service members get started in agriculture, and keep growing. Today, more than four million veterans call rural America home – comprising more than 11 percent of the rural population – and agriculture holds a promising new career for many.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is focused on expanding opportunity for new and beginning producers across the nation, and on creating new opportunities for existing farmers and ranchers. Secretary Vilsack has identified these new opportunities as one priority to help revitalize the rural economy and create jobs.

• Local food sales provide a rapidly growing market opportunity for American agriculture – especially for farmers and ranchers who are just getting into agriculture. The opportunity to produce and market products locally has a particularly positive impact for small and limited-resource producers. Local food is a multibillion-dollar market and growing.
  
• Local markets also have benefits for Americans who live off the farm. In areas of high poverty, low food security or limited access to healthy foods, farmers markets provide an expanded opportunity for low-income families to purchase fresh, local products.

To help producers take advantage of this multi-billion dollar marketing opportunity, USDA has made historic investments to support these expanding markets.

USDA created the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative in 2009 to help connect producers with new opportunities in local and regional marketing – and to better inform Americans about the business of agriculture and opportunities to connect with farmers and ranchers.

Since 2009, USDA has supported over 2,600 projects nationwide to build new market opportunities in local and regional foods, mainly through programs authorized in the Farm Bill.

• USDA has invested in the future of farmers markets through the Farmers Market Promotion Program, providing assistance for nearly 450 projects nationwide to grow and expand farmers markets.
  
• USDA has invested in more than 860 projects under the Specialty Crop Block Grants program to expand the production of fruits and vegetables for sale at local markets.
  
• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture has provided 89 Community Food Project awards in 36 states to expand local food opportunity in low-income communities.
  
• Over 40,000 young and beginning farmers in 48 states have received assistance in business planning, risk management and farming practices through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
  
• Since 2009, USDA has provided assistance to create more than 10,800 high tunnels – low-cost greenhouses that extend the growing season – through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
  
• USDA has provided more than 4,000 microloans under the Farm Service Agency’s new microlending program. This program provides smaller loans of up to $35,000 for small-scale producers who can also take advantage of local marketing opportunities.

For a complete breakdown of USDA investments by state and region, and to view the growing number of farmers markets, food hubs and other local food indicators, visit the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass map at www.usda.gov/kyfcompass. It is searchable by zip code, key word and program.

• Since 2009, USDA’s has helped to create more than 2,800 new farmers markets, which provide farmers and ranchers with new opportunities to sell their produce and expand food options for families. The number of farmers markets has grown by 70 percent nationally since 2009.
  
• USDA efforts also have helped expand the number of regional food hubs, which aggregate products from small and midsize farms and distribute them to large-volume buyers. The number of regional food hubs has risen by 65 percent since 2009, and more than 230 are now operational around the country.

Much of this support was made possible through programs authorized under the Farm Bill.

To continue support to grow local and regional food systems across the nation, Congress should expedite passage of a comprehensive, multiyear Food, Farm and Jobs Bill. A new Farm Bill would:

• Expand support for local food enterprises through a new Local Food Promotion Program, which would replace the Farmers Market Promotion Program. FMPP is currently without funding due to the lack of a Farm Bill.
• Restore critical funding to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which trains the next generation of farmers, including returning veterans. BFRDP is currently without funding due to the lack of a Farm Bill.
• Launch a new program to help low-income consumers purchase more fruits and vegetables, particularly locally-grown produce, by providing incentives at the point of purchase.
• Continue critical infrastructure funding for food storage, processing and distribution businesses, including food hubs, through Rural Development programs such as the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program.

A new Farm Bill would also provide many other critical programs that would grow the rural economy and create jobs in rural America.