MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County has been working with local and state government officials and departments to continue to be there to assist farmers now more than ever. New York State Department of Ag and Markets has also been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to find ways to assist farmers with continuing their operations while improving safety precautions.
One way has been the plan to distribute some of the products needed to improve safety and which are in high demand for us all – hand sanitizer and face masks.
The hand sanitizer was produced by New York State, secured by the NY Department of Ag & Markets and the masks by the Cornell Farmworker Program. Cornell Cooperative Extension offices around the region organized the distributions.
Orange County Extension Educators distributed hand sanitizer and washable face masks to local farmworkers on Thursday, May 8th and Friday, May 9th. Over 1300 gallons of hand sanitizer were distributed to 29 farms representing 538 farmworkers in Orange County. The recipients were greenhouses, fruit, vegetable and livestock farms.
A special Thank You from Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County goes to S&SO Produce Farms for loaning a straight truck for the transportation of the 10 pallets of hand sanitizer from Millbrook to Goshen where distribution to farmers took place.
Farmers were very appreciative of the efforts to improve worker safety by acquiring supplies that have been in short supply.
“Farms are appreciative that the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Cornell Farmworker Program, and Cornell Cooperative Extension could move swiftly and help us acquire hand sanitizer and masks for workers to help keep the food system running smoothly” said Joy Crist, of Crist Bros Orchards in Walden, NY.
70 gallons of hand sanitizer was also allocated to all of the Orange County Farmers Markets in an effort to keep producers and shoppers safe as we move into the season when visits to local markets increases.
More distributions are being planned as supplies are consumed and worker populations increase during the growing and harvest season.
Cornell Cooperative Extension and its partnerships provide programs for Orange County residents on youth and family development; nutrition, health, and food safety; community and economic vitality; and agricultural sustainability through Cornell based research. Committed to Orange County, we design programs to meet local needs to enable people to improve their lives and communities. For more information call Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County at 845-344-1234 or visit our website at www.cceorangecounty.org.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension