New York State Agriculture Commissioner Announces $700,000 Available to Support New York’s Farmers’ Markets
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball introduced at present that $700,000 is on the market for New York farmers markets by means of the Farmers Market Resilience Grant Program. Grant funding will assist farmers strengthen their markets and make native meals extra accessible to shoppers by creating on-line gross sales, enhancing infrastructure and rising advertising and marketing and promotion efforts. Funding for this system was included this yr ADOPTED finances and is a part of Governor Hochul’s State of the Union dedication to New York’s agriculture business and rising the resilience of the state’s meals provide chain after COVID-19.
Commissioner Ball stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that it is imperative to have a strong, flexible and efficient food supply chain here in New York State. The Farmers Market Resilience Grant Program is another aspect of Governor Hochul’s plan to support that supply chain, providing farmers markets with the funding they need to offer online sales and invest in infrastructure and promotion, and eventually to reach more consumers and get more local New York. food on tables across the state.”
Funding obtainable by means of the Farmers Market Resilience Grant Program shall be obtainable for tasks that assist markets construct infrastructure, together with cubicles and signage, and digital infrastructure equivalent to internet platform growth for on-line gross sales capabilities. Projects may additionally embrace advertising and marketing and promotional initiatives for markets throughout the state, increasing their attain to much more shoppers.
Eligible candidates embrace nonprofit organizations, native municipalities, enterprise enchancment districts, native chambers of commerce and public profit firms that at present function a number of farmers markets in New York State. The funding shall be break up into two sections, with $300,000 devoted to grants of $10,000 to $50,000 and $400,000 devoted to awards of $50,000 to $100,000.
For extra info on this system and the way to apply, go to https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfp-0282-farmers-market-resiliency-grant. The deadline for proposals is 16:00 on Wednesday 14 December 2022. Applications for funding should adjust to the format supplied on Grants Gateway. A webinar with info on this system will happen on November 17. Learn extra and register.
Diane Eggert, Executive Director of the New York Farmers Market Federation stated, “The pandemic created significant challenges for farmers’ markets to ensure they can continue to connect farmers with local customers. The COVID-19 guidelines were costly to maintain, both in dollars and in human capital, but markets knew it was essential to maintain the market to keep farmers whole and customers connected to local food. This grant opportunity will go a long way to helping markets recover from the costs of the pandemic and keep markets alive with new, innovative ways to build relationships between farmers and consumers.”
Funding for the Farmers Market Resilience Grant Program was introduced in Governor Hochul’s 2022 State of the State Address as a part of the Governor’s dedication to making a resilient meals system that may face up to excessive occasions whereas being accessible to all New Yorkers.
New York State has launched a number of modern packages in recent times to strengthen the meals provide chain and enhance entry to wholesome, domestically grown meals throughout the state. The State Food Supply Working Group, which met through the pandemic, issued a report in early 2022 outlining suggestions on how to enhance the resilience and self-reliance of the meals system nationwide. The state has additionally created a process power on Improving Urban and Rural Consumer Access to Locally Produced Healthy Foods to join upstate and downstate New York in meals procurement and distribution, which is making ready to launch a report within the coming months. Bringing collectively specialists to strengthen the connection between upstate and downstate will facilitate simpler supply of contemporary, native, nutritious meals to these New Yorkers who want it most.
Farmers markets, farm stands and cellular markets are important parts of a wholesome meals system. at present, New York has greater than 400 farmers markets, 250 farm stands and 10 cellular markets. They present alternatives for agricultural producers to meet rising shopper demand for a wide range of contemporary, reasonably priced and handy merchandise grown immediately from the farm. New York State—by means of the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Health, the Office on Aging, and the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance—administers a number of packages that assist low-income households, seniors, and veterans entry contemporary and wholesome meals in collaborating markets.
