ALBANY — The Grow NY Farms campaign announced that more than 300 farmers and farmworkers visited the State Capitol in Albany today to continue dialogue with Legislators regarding the proposed Farm Workers Fair Practices Act. Additionally, the number of multi-generational farms and local businesses that have signed-on to support the Grow NY Farms campaign has increased to more than 40.
Notable speakers at today’s rally and press conference included Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, New York Farm Bureau President and Dairy Farm Owner David Fisher, New York Vegetable Growers Association President and Farm Owner Brian Reeves, and farm workers and other farm owners from across the state.
Grow NY Farms supporters aim to educate legislators on the unintended consequences of the proposed farm labor bill (S.2837/A.2750).
If the legislation is enacted into law as it’s currently written, farms would:
- Be forced to make significant cuts in employee hours – reducing weekly wages;
- Encounter new challenges that may threaten harvests or care for animals; and
- Experience a drop in employment due to the availability of additional hours in neighboring states.
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “As a farm owner from St. Lawrence County, I know first-hand the challenges New York farmers and farmworkers face every day. That’s why we’ve come together to discuss with our legislators just how difficult it is to plan crop schedules around the rain and how the markets dictate what we receive for what we produce. I know we can find common ground on the proposed legislation regarding farm labor that benefits our farmworkers, farms and consumers, and we look forward to continue working with our elected officials to make that happen.”
Torrey Farms Owner Maureen Torrey said, “While I believe there is good intention behind the proposed farm labor bill, there will be significant consequences if it’s passed as its currently written. Our farmworkers understand the changes farms will need to make, including cutting hours in order to avoid overtime, and they’ve traveled from across the state to have their voices heard on this issue. I know there is a path forward that will keep the best interests of our farmworkers and owners in mind.”
The following family farms, local businesses, and organizations support the efforts of the Grow NY Farms campaign:
Organizations:
|
|
Farms and Local Businesses (by region):
Capital Region
- Bowman Orchards – Rexford, Saratoga County
- Ideal Dairy Farms Inc. – Hudson Falls, Washington County
- Landview Farm – Eagle Bridge, Rensselaer County
- New York Apple Sales Inc. – Glenmont, Albany County
- Stanton’s Feura Farm & Markets – Feura Bush, Albany County
- Tiashoke Farm – Buskirk, Washington County
Central New York / Mohawk Valley
- Abbott Farms – Baldwinsville, Onondaga County
- Aurora Ridge Dairy – Aurora, Cayuga County
- Beckwith Family Christmas Trees – Hannibal, Oswego County
- Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard, Inc. – Fly Creek, Otsego County
- Kutik’s Honey Farm – Oxford, Chenango County
- Legacy Wealth Advisors of NY – Syracuse, Onondaga County
- Reeves Farms – Baldwinsville, Onondaga County
- Syracuse Fiber – Syracuse, Onondaga County
- Turek Farms – King Ferry, Cayuga County
Finger Lakes
- The Apple Farm – Victor, Ontario County
- Dale S. Root Farms, LLC – Albion, Orleans County
- Dziedzic Farms – Bliss, Wyoming County
- Empire Drip Supply – Sodus, Wayne County
- Jay R Debadts & Sons Fruit Farms, LLC – Sodus, Wayne County
- Kast Farms, Inc. – Albion, Orleans County
- Ledge Rock Farms, LLC – Medina, Orleans County
- My-T Acres Farm – Batavia, Genesee County
- Robert Peters Farms – Pultneyville, Wayne County
- SJ Starowitz Farms LLC – Byron, Genesee County
- Springbrook Orchards – Lyons, Wayne County
- Torrey Farms, Inc. – Elba, Genesee County
- Zingler Farms, Inc. – Kendall, Orleans County
Mid-Hudson Valley
- Crist Brothers Orchard– Walden, Orange County
- Davenport Farms – Stone Ridge, Ulster County
- Evolutionary Organics – New Paltz, Ulster County
- Hudson River Fruit Distributors – Milton, Ulster County
- John Ruszkiewicz Farm – Pine Island, Orange County
- Kelder’s Farm – Kerhonkson, Ulster County
- Soons Orchard – New Hampton, Orange County
New York City & Long Island
- Deer Run Farms – Brookhaven, Suffolk County
- The Milk Pail – Water Mill, Suffolk County
- Van de Wetering greenhouses – Jamesport, Suffolk County
North Country
- Champlain Valley Agronomics Inc. – Peru, Clinton County
- Mapleview Dairy LLC – Madrid, St. Lawrence County
- Northern Orchard Co., Inc. – Peru, Clinton County
Western New York
- Amos Zittel & Sons Inc. – Eden, Erie County
- Confer Plastics, Inc. – North Tonawanda, Niagara County
- My-T Acres – Batavia, Genesee County
- Phillips Family Farm, Inc. – North Collins, Erie County
- Torrey Farms – Elba, Genesee County
To learn more about the campaign, follow Grow NY Farms on Twitter @GrowNYFarms, watch videos on the Grow NY Farms YouTube, and visit the website: grownyfarms.com.
–Grow NY Farms
For more articles out of New York, click here.