News Release 

Date: April 11, 2008

Contact: Rebecca Schuelke, communication specialist
Telephone: (315) 453-3823 extension 103
Cell phone: (315) 427-2714
Email: rschuelke@nyfvi.org


Local food successes, opportunities focus of North Country program

A celebration of the progress farmers and community advocates have made in selling local food and direct marketing is set for this spring in northern New York.

``Local Foods Connections’’ is also a time to continue the discussion about challenges and opportunities to local food systems, organizers said. Events will take place from May1-3 in locations throughout the North Country.

The local food program is part of New Strategies Project: Enhancing Profitability on North Country Farms, a collaboration of Cornell Cooperative Extension county offices in northern New York that received grant funds from the New York Farm Viability Institute to assist farms that are exploring new farm business ventures.

The farmer-led New York Farm Viability Institute is a nonprofit group that awards grants for farm-based projects designed to increase farm profits and provide models for other farmers.

Since late 2005, the North Country farm profitability project has worked with sheep growers that market felted wool products, a honey maker, organic vegetable growers, and farmers selling meat and eggs.

``Local Foods Connections’’ will feature discussions lead by food and farm authors Shannon Hayes and Barbara Damrosch.

Hayes, author of ``The Grass-fed Gourmet’’ (Eating Fresh, 2004), lives in Schoharie County. Hayes, husband Bob Hooper, and her parents Jim and Adele Hayes, work Sap Bush Hollow Farm. She lectures and has been published in

Damrosch writes the weekly column ``A Cook’s Garden’’ for the Washington Post and is the author of the book, ``The Garden Primer’’ (Workman, 2008). She lives in Harborside, Maine.

- Enjoy supper with author Hayes from 6-8 p.m. May 1 at Hohmeyer’s Lodge on Lake Clear, 6319 State Route 30, Lake Clear.

- Local-foods luncheon and discussion featuring Hayes and Damrosch from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 2 at Riveredge Resort, 17 Holland St., Alexandria Bay.

- Local-foods luncheon and discussion featuring Hayes and Damrosch from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 3 at American Maple Museum, 9753 State Route 812, Croghan.

There is no cost to attend, but registration by April 25 is required. Register at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County, (518) 483-7403 or bel17@cornell.edu.




New York Farm Viability Institute is an independent, farmer-led nonprofit organization that directs and funds farm-level research to increase profits, reduce costs and other barriers, create jobs and encourage practical innovation on the farm. The Institute receives funds from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Visit www.nyfvi.org.