The Catskills badly needs sustainable economic growth, especially to counter destructive choices, like gas drilling. Working with NRDC and other partners we have determined that agriculture, our second largest industry, is the best option for this growth.

Agriculture has the lowest start-up infrastructure cost of any land use for economic growth and has an average economic multiple of 2.5 –for every dollar earned by a farmer 2.5 dollars are pumped into the regional economy.  Our region has ample land appropriate for crop, dairy and livestock farming on a scale that will support the needs of the local and regional area . The cost for farmland in the Catskills is the lowest available within 100 miles of New York City and importantly we have an abundance of accessible clean water.

Because of our strategic location to the 21 million people in the NY metro market we can take advantage of the movement toward buying locally produced food which is rapidly growing.  Our Western Catskill Region Foodshed Research & Analysis has shown that the demand will exceed the supply in the near and midterm future. Other locales such as the Hudson Valley, the Berkshires and Southern New Jersey have a head start on the Catskills – but with the continuing growth of the market for fresh local food at the retail, restaurant and recently at the institutional levels, agriculture represents a strong opportunity for our region.

Please continue to explore the site to find out more about Catskill Mountainkeeper’s various programs and the ways in which you can support your local Catskills’ farms!