Gillibrand Talks Community Supported Agriculture
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand toured Glynwood Farm in Cold Spring last Wednesday in support of her newly proposed legislation that would create a competitive grant program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help fund local farming communities.
Gillibrand, who also serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, presented a bill on July 26 in promotion of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). This collective approach to agriculture would establish a direct link between farmers and their communities as well as deliver stronger incentives for consumers to buy local produce.
“Community Supported Agriculture is really the future of this county,” Gillibrand said to a crowd of nearly hundred people. “It’s so important for families to know where their food is coming from.”
For the past 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture has provided consumers with an alternative food source that focuses on strengthening the local economy.
In this system, farmers propose a particular amount of “shares” to the public, all of which consumers pay a certain price to acquire. These “shareholders” then receive a produce box each week throughout the season. This model establishes a personal connection between buyer and sellers.
The senator’s legislation would create a grant program for nonprofit organizations, extension services and state and local agencies to aid community-supported farms—and would provide the proper business and marketing tools to farms. This would in turn help the United States to gradually transition from its heavy reliance on commercial, privately-owned farms to locally, family-operated farms.
According a survey conducted in 2007, the USDA reported 12,549 farms that marketed products toward a “community supported agriculture arrangement.” Of these 12,549 farms, 349 were located in New York state.
Gillibrand said legislation of this nature would not only benefit local agriculture, but would help to boost local economies and stimulate job growth, as well.
“Farms are also a great economic benefit,” Gillibrand said. “As the governor develops an economic development plan for the state, I’m urging our local leaders to make sure agriculture is front and center as an industry to help spur economic growth.”
Glynwood Farm president Judy LaBelle praised the senator for strengthening ties to farming communities.
“We’re so happy to have had Senator Gillibrand come to [Glynwood],” LaBelle said. “I’m proud to say that she is also the first senator from New York state to work on the Senator Agriculture Committee.”
Most of the 250-acre farm’s food is sold via community-supported agriculture and 50 households currently hold shares to Glynwood’s produce. The farm cultivates over 30 different types of vegetables and maintains a variety of livestock. Gillibrand praised farms like Glynwood that have proven a CSA model can be successful.
“We have such an opportunity in the Hudson Valley to make this an organic valley,” Gillibrand said. “We have so many opportunities and leaders in our community that can help write that business plan about how to introduce organic farming to our traditional farms and our current organic farms.”
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.