To kick off National Farmers’ Market Week, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball on Monday announced that nearly $250,000 has been awarded to six farmers’ market organizations across the state through Round 2 of the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant Program. Funding for the program was included in the 2023-24 New York State Budget.
Funding was awarded to six farmers’ market organizations across New York State to help strengthen their markets and make local products more accessible to consumers by establishing online sales, improving infrastructure, and expanding marketing and outreach efforts.
The awarded recipients include:
- Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation of Kings County (New York City): $50,000 to support paid youth agriculture internships, an adult gardener network encompassing over 200 members, four urban farms and community gardens, two youth-run farmers’ market, two fresh food pantries, cooking demonstrations, local green projects, and the East New York Compost Project. A market manager will spearhead advertisement and promotion to increase market participation, vendor participation, and an increased number of engagement events.
- Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Inc. of Sullivan County (Mid-Hudson): $50,000 to upgrade market infrastructure with a tent and gravel path to accommodate a higher volume of producers and consumers; increase marketing efforts to improve vendor numbers and public attendance; and offer a discounted vendor fee to farmers and producers.
- Webster’s Joe Obbie Farmers’ Market Inc. of Monroe County (Finger Lakes): $22,950 to support marketing efforts, increase market attendance, and create an online presence and increased public awareness of the market.
- Fulton Market Association Inc. of New York County (New York City): $49,000 to support a farmer and producer survey to assess market needs, Pro Forma development, and architectural design services to incorporate the retail space and equipment needs of interested New York farmers and producers.
- Village of Greenwood Lake of Orange County (Mid-Hudson): $22,665 to support food waste reduction via compost collection, and enhance marketing, outreach, and education efforts to increase the customer base and number of specialty farmers and vendors. The project will also increase food access for the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population through an expanded Market Bucks program.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County (Mohawk Valley): $50,000 to support development and enhancement of an online farmers’ market ordering system; scale up marketing and outreach efforts to recruit “virtual vendors” and in-person vendors; facilitate consumer and vendor market survey development; and work with Upstate New York Growers and Packers to create food boxes.
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