ALBANY — New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that nearly $750,000 has been awarded through the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority (GVRMA) for 10 research, education, and promotion projects to strengthen New York State’s agricultural industry and spur economic growth across the state. The funding supports critical research and marketing of New York’s diverse commodities, including the potato and maple industries. It also supports the promotion of the craft beverage industry and agritourism activities in the region.
“We are thankful for these investments and for the GVRMA’s support of agriculture and its related industries,” Commissioner Ball said. “These resources, while based in the Genesee Valley, will help our farms and food and beverage businesses across New York State through valuable education, research and promotion, allowing our producers to be more competitive and reach more consumers.”
Agriculture supports thousands of jobs and is a key investment area for the Genesee Valley, as outlined in in the Finger Lakes Forward and Southern Tier Soaring regional economic development plans.
GVRMA, in coordination with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, solicits applications for projects that assist in the development of agriculture and agriculture-related businesses in nine counties in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions. The regions include Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties.
Aligning with GVRMA’s long-term strategic plan for growth in the region and beyond, the GVRMA Board awarded $200,000 to the New York Wine & Grape Foundation (NYWGF) to support its successful NY Drinks NY program, a promotional effort showcasing New York’s wine and grape industries. This funding has helped Finger Lakes and New York wine producers to grow their business and connect to new markets in New York City through special events, such as the annual Grand Tasting, which has attracted over 1,000 trade and media participants.
In addition to the tasting, the NY Drinks NY program hosts three annual Finger Lakes winery familiarization tours. Over 300 New York City trade and media have participated on these tours, which has resulted in an increased number of retail and restaurant outlets carrying New York wines.
The GVRMA Board also awarded $15,000 to the New York Kitchen Craft Brew & BBQ Festival, which showcases the state’s rapidly expanding craft beverage industry and its agricultural partners, who grow and harvest local ingredients. The State’s farm-based craft beverage industry has grown by more than 175 percent since the first Beer, Wine, Spirits and Cider Summit in 2012. Since then, 495 new farm-based craft beverage licenses have been issued.
In addition, the GVRMA Board awarded the following projects that will boost the education, promotion and marketing of New York’s agricultural industry:
- Cornell AgriTech – $400,000: for the research and development of agricultural products.
- Cornell University – $50,000: for agricultural workforce development programming as it relates to farm employee onboarding, housing management, supervisory leadership development, and employee law compliance.
- Finger Lakes Wine Alliance – $15,000: for promotion of NYS Rieslings in the Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany markets.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County – $15,000: to support Monroe County farmers in their efforts to create and promote agritourism on their farms.
- Empire State Potato Growers Association – $7,500: for the marketing and promotion of New York State grown potatoes.
- Ontario County Agricultural Society – $15,000: for the installation of infrastructure to support an agricultural building at the Ontario County Fairgrounds.
- Bishop Kearney High School – $15,000: for infrastructure and educational materials for students to learn the importance of sustainable agriculture and develop a deeper understanding of the food that they consume.
- Western New York Maple Producers Association – $15,000: to acquire a mobile maple exhibit and facilitate a maple education program.
New York State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Jen Metzger said, “The long-term sustainability of New York’s agricultural industry is tied to strategic investments that support valuable research, development, and education-based projects, which can, in turn, foster innovation and have a positive, transformative effect for farms and agribusinesses across the state. While this funding is tailored to the Genesee Valley, it will provide important benchmarks for productivity that can guide farms and our ever-growing roster of craft beverage manufacturers, across New York State who are interested in beginning or expanding an agritourism operation or diversifying what they grow.”
Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Donna Lupardo said, “Agriculture is central to the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier economies. Investments in research, education, and promotion help producers in these regions better connect with consumers while growing the entire industry. I’d like to thank GVRMA for their vision and commitment to the Upstate economy.”
Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority Administrator Brendan Tydings said, “The Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority is committed to supporting local agriculture and agribusinesses. The Genesee Valley Region has so much to offer and we are happy to help support the continued growth and promote all of the great things going on here. The agriculture development program provides the funding necessary to continue all of the great work that has been done and will help leverage this region for success for many years to come.”
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Director Jan Nyrop said, “Cornell AgriTech is a hub for food and agricultural research, its application and commercialization. Thanks to funding from the Genesee Valley Marketing Authority, we will be able to expand our impact to the New York farm and food economy. This funding will allow us to provide facilities for entrepreneurship that benefit our State’s food and agricultural businesses.”
Executive Director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation Sam Filler said, “We value the sustained support from GVRMA to provide Finger Lakes wine and the value-added agricultural industry with the opportunity to participate in the NY Drinks NY program, which provides important access that helps wineries develop their market presence in New York City. Last year alone, the total value of sales by the case was $468,000 as a result of this program.”
Since 2011, GVRMA has awarded approximately $8.75 million to more than 80 projects in the Genesee Valley through the Agriculture Development Grant Program.
Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward and Southern Tier Soaring
Today’s announcement complements Finger Lakes Forward and Southern Tier Soaring, the comprehensive blueprints to generate robust economic growth and community development in those regions. The State has already invested more than $6.1 billion in the Finger Lakes and more than $5.6 billion in the Southern Tier since 2012 to lay the groundwork for the plans – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation.
Both regions are accelerating their economic development plans with $500 million investments from the State through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment in the regions will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion in each region and add thousands of jobs. More information is available here.
–NYS Department of Agricuture and Markets
For more articles out of New York, click here.