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“Mid-Hudson Agriculture: Growing our Economy and our Communities” conference to be held at SUNY New Paltz

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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 this 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:

  • Agriculture: Where Will the Hudson Valley Be in Ten Years?
  • Regional Agriculture in Our Schools and Institutions
  • Reaching the Regional Market
  • Success Stories: Farm Food for Strengthened Families and Communities
  • Our Brand for 25,000,000 Customers in the Tri-State area

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.

Co-sponsorships are available for $125/corporate and $75/non-profits, agencies, or small businesses. Fee includes breakfast and lunch and all conference sessions for one person, opportunity to table at the conference, and sponsorship noted on the conference brochure. Call Janis Benincasa at (845) 257-2901 or email crreo@newpaltz.edu for more information.

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CRREO was established in 2007 to further engage the State University of New York at New Paltz and its people with communities, governments, not-for-profits and businesses across our region. CRREO conducts and publicizes research on regional topics; creates and directs select institutes focusing on specific topics of regional interest; connects and partners with local governments, not-for-profits and businesses to initiate reforms and advocate for best practices; contracts to assess the performance of public and not-for-profit agencies and programs; and works to foster intergovernmental collaboration and community engagement.

The Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) is the only economic development agency in the Hudson Valley with a specific focus on the viability of the agricultural economy in the region. HVADC’s charge is to enhance the agricultural sector in the Hudson Valley by assisting both new and existing agri-businesses, and supporting policies and regulations that recognize and support New York State’s agricultural economy. HVADC’s services are carefully designed to promote the Hudson Valley as an attractive, viable region for agriculture and to foster growth and development of the agricultural sector through a creative program or marketing, promotion and the provision and coordination of financial and other resources.

Campus Auxiliary Services is a not-for-profit corporation located on the SUNY New Paltz campus. CAS receives no funds from tuition, student activity fees or taxes. All profits generated by CAS are returned directly to the students through capital investments, scholarships and various programs. CAS and its subcontractors also represent the largest student employment opportunity on campus. CAS contracts with SUNY New Paltz to provide food services, the bookstore, vending machines, on campus laundry machines, cablevision, ID cards, conference planning and many other services.

The League of Women Voters of the Mid-Hudson Region is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. The do not support or oppose any political party or candidate. The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles: voter service/ citizen education: presentation of unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process, and issues; and action/advocacy: the league is nonpartisan, but, after study, uses their positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

In early 2009, a small group of committed volunteers launched UlsterCorps to bring other volunteers together with the organizations in Ulster County that rely on their help. Since its inception UlsterCorps has connected thousands of people with dozens of Ulster County agencies that provide food, clothing, shelter, emergency services, literacy training, child and elder care, animal welfare, and more to the area’s most vulnerable residents. UlsterCorps has become a vital, collaboration-building resource for nonprofit agencies, civic and religious organizations, businesses, schools, government and volunteers of all ages. Since 2009, UlsterCorps volunteers have harvested and delivered over 25,000lbs of fresh fruit and vegetables to local food pantries and soup kitchens.