Food and Farming in New York

Farm Aid is proud to bring its music and mission to New York, a state with a rich agricultural tradition. More and more New York consumers are deeply committed to supporting local farms. New York state and local governments are working hard to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to fresh food from family farmers.

Family Farms of New York

  • There are 36,000 farms in New York.
  • The top five state crops are dairy, greenhouse plants, apples, cattle and hay.
  • New York State boasts 127 Community Supported Agriculture Programs, where members buy a "share" of the farm and receive weekly deliveries of fresh food, and 327 farmers markets.
  • There are 428 certified organic farms and 330 certified organic crops in New York, which are grown on 26,955 acres.

New York's Top Crop

  • Dairy is New York's top agricultural industry, with about 6,000 dairy farms. High energy prices, low milk prices and limited markets make it nearly impossible for dairy farmers to make a profit. New York is currently losing almost 40 dairy farms a month.
  • Many NY dairy farmers have transitioned to direct marketing, value added products (like cheese, yoghurt and butter) grass based or organic production to make their farms more profitable.
  • One quarter of milk produced in New York is for drinking, the rest gets turned into 700 million pounds of cheese, 184 million pounds of cottage cheese, 16 million pounds of butter, 237 million pounds of yoghurt and 30 million gallons of ice cream.

Fresh Food in New York City

  • New York City is home to 76 farmers markets, 16 of which are open year round.
  • At peak season, shoppers find abundance within the city limits. For example, Greenmarkets farmers grow 47 varieties of peas and beans, 120 varieties of apples, 170 varieties of tomatoes and 350 varieties of peppers in addition to vegetables, fruit, meat, dairy, poultry, wool, fish, honey, maple syrup, jam, wine, plants, flowers, and baked goods.
  • There are almost 30 Community Supported Agriculture Programs with over 50 drop off points across the five boroughs.
  • The New York City school system feeds 1.1 million school children. The school lunch program serves local foods such as New York state apples and provides healthy choices including whole wheat bread and salad bars.

Farm Aid and New York Farmers

Farm Aid's mission is to keep family farmers on the land. Our goal is to bring together family farmers, citizens and consumers to build thriving, family farm-centered agriculture. To that end, Farm Aid works in the following four categories:

Growing the Good Food Movement: In New York, Farm Aid has been a long-time funder of Just Food, an urban non-profit that connects urban residents with farmers through the creation of Community Supported Agriculture Programs, urban farms and farmers markets.

Taking Action to Change the System: Farm Aid supports the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, based in Pine Bush, which seeks national policies that support and promote sustainable agriculture. Farm Aid has also been a long-time funder of the National Family Farm Coalition, who's Dairy Task Force is very active throughout New York.

Helping Farmers Thrive: Farm Aid has supported the New York FarmNet, a program through Cornell Cooperative Extension that works to keep New York farmers on their land. In 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Farm Aid provided funds to the Farmers Market Federation of New York to help rebuild the farmers markets that were destroyed at the World Trade Center. More recently, in 2006, Farm Aid distributed emergency funds through the Glynwood Center, based in Cold Spring, to assist farmers hit by devastating spring floods.

Promoting Food From Family Farms: Throughout the summer, Farm Aid will hold events that will inspire people to reach for family farm identified food--sustainable, humanely raised, organic, or local. Farm Aid 2007: A Homegrown Festival will serve through its concessions homegrown food for concertgoers and provide them with experiential activities that will deepen their desire for food from family farms.

"State Fact Sheets: New York." United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, March 26, 2007, www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/ny.htm.
"State Fact Sheets: New York." United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, March 26, 2007, www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/ny.htm.
"New York State search results." Robyn Van En Center: CSA Database, May, 17, 2007, www.wilson.edu/csasearch/results.asp?pageNumber=0
"Farmers Markets Listed by State, New York." United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Marketing Service, May 17, 2007, www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm
"Greenmarket Facts." Council on the Environment of NYC, Greenmarket, May 23, 2007, www.cenyc.org/site/.
"CSA in NYC: CSA Locations." Just Food, March 28, 2007, www.justfood.org/csa/locations/.
"State Fact Sheets: New York." United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, March 26, 2007, www.ers.usda.gov/statefacts/ny.htm.
"Commissioner Hooker Recognizes June as Dairy Month in NYS." New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, June 1, 2007, www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AD/release.asp?ReleaseID=1623.
"Farmers Markets Listed by State, New York." United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Marketing Service, May 17, 2007, www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm
"Greenmarket Facts." Council on the Environment of NYC, Greenmarket, May 23, 2007, www.cenyc.org/site/.
"Greenmarket Facts." Council on the Environment of NYC, Greenmarket, May 23, 2007, www.cenyc.org/site/.
"New York State search results." Robyn Van En Center: CSA Database, May, 17, 2007, www.wilson.edu/csasearch/results.asp?pageNumber=0
"CSA in NYC: CSA Locations." Just Food, March 28, 2007, www.justfood.org/csa/locations/. Severson, Kim. "Farewell, French Fries! Hello, Sliced Apples!" New York Times, April 4, 2007.