Farms

A New York state senator from the Hudson Valley has introduced a bill to help connect job seekers with job opportunities on farms.

A bill that eliminates an administrative burden for farmers in New York is now law.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo this week signed the Farm Workers Bill, which establishes worker rights and labor protections.  While the governor calls it a great achievement, farm advocates say it threatens family farm operations and won’t necessarily help workers.

A New York congressman says he is leading a bipartisan bill to ease bankruptcy rules for farmers.

Community service organization Capital Roots announced the launch of the Greater Capital Region Food System Assessment Wednesday at its headquarters and regional food hub, the Urban Grow Center, in Troy.

A coalition of anti-hunger advocates, agricultural groups and environmental organizations are urging New York leaders to create a tax credit for farmers who donate fruits, vegetables and other products to foodbanks. 

Long Table Harvest is a new farm food rescue program serving Columbia County. The goal is to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables to county residents in need. WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne spoke with Long Table Harvest co-founder Audrey Berman about her program and its mission.

A staple of Saturday mornings in the Collar City, Troy’s popular downtown farmers market will not be moving to its proposed new home on River Street after all.

The latest USDA agriculture census data for Massachusetts, released earlier this month, shows farmers weathered the Great Recession as total agricultural sales held steady.  Direct sales to consumers jumped 14 percent between 2007 and 2012.  The growth in direct sales by local farms in western Massachusetts during the five year period mirrored the statewide increase.  WAMC”s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill spoke about the report with Philip Korman, executive director of Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture.

A state-funded wellness initiative in the Northern Berkshires is holding a community discussion on addressing the region’s nutritional challenges.

The North Berkshire chapter of Mass In Motion, a state-funded program that encourages health-conscious lifestyles through exercise, nutrition, and community involvement, is holding a community-wide event that will focus on connecting residents to fresh and healthy food.

The USDA is helping fund an effort to get products from local farms into the kitchens of large institutions in the region, such as colleges and hospitals.  Officials say the demand for food from closer to home continues to grow, but the infrastructure to supply it has not kept up.  WAMC”s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports