Catskill Mountainkeeper

NEW PALTZ – Julie Suarez, Director of Policy at the New York State Farm Bureau, will deliver the luncheon keynote address at the “Mid-Hudson Agriculture: Growing our Economy and our Communities” conference to be held on March 1, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Student Union on the State University of New York at New Paltz campus. Ulster County Executive Michael Hein, New Paltz President Donald Christian, and State Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk will welcome participants. The conference will actively engage all who attend, giving time for their participation via input and reporting.

In 2011, CRREO published Agriculture Supporting Communities in the Mid-Hudson Region followed by Food Insecurity in Ulster County in 2012. “Mid-Hudson Agriculture: Growing Our Economy and Our Communities” will build upon these works, with conference participants gathering to discuss future action for the region’s agricultural community. Farmers, policy makers, community leaders, and interested citizens will work together on ways to help us nurture farms in the region, create local distribution and markets for farmers, and help get healthy, local food to Mid-Hudson residents.

Topics on the agenda include:

The conference will culminate in an overall discussion from “The Farmer’s Point of View.” In a plenary session, farmers will identify and elaborate on what they see as the greatest opportunities and barriers to serving local markets with the foods they produce.

The event is hosted by the New Paltz Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach (CRREO), and sponsored by the SUNY New Paltz Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS), Hudson Valley Agri-Business Corporation, League of Women Voters of the Mid-Hudson Region, and UlsterCorps. Co-sponsoring organizations include Orange County Land Trust, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Rondout Valley Organics, Sprout Creek Farm, Brook Farm, and SUNY New Paltz United University Professionals. The conference has been endorsed by the SUNY New Paltz Student Association, Campus Sustainability Committee, Environmental Task Force, Students for Sustainable Agriculture, and Recycling Club, as well as the New Paltz Climate Action Coalition and the Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance.

Click here to pre-register. The conference registration fee is $20 which includes regionally sourced breakfast and lunch and all conference sessions for one person. The discounted rate for students is $5. Space is limited; early registration is encouraged.

Call Janis Benincasa at (845) 257-2901 or email [email protected] for more information.

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