INCREASE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT THE REGION’S FOOD AND FARMING ECONOMY

The infrastructure the region’s farmers need to move product from the field to the consumer – the processing distribution and marketing system – is badly frayed. Moreover, in recent years farmers’ access to credit has been severely restricted and become increasingly expensive.

Local, state, federal and private investment should be encouraged in agriculture as well as related value added processing, distribution and marketing businesses.

Increase public and private investment that supports food and farming related businesses.
1. In particular, the infrastructure on which farmers rely to move their product from the farm to the consumer must be strengthened or recreated. This should include:

• Creation of various forms of processing infrastructure needed to add value to local products.

• Creation one or more “depots” or “agricultural industrial parks” that allow farmers to share resources and facilities, and access materials and services in a more cost effective way.

• Completion of the renovation of Hunts Point and the creation of a new wholesale farmers market in New York City, both designed to be as ‘farmer friendly’ as possible.

• Exploration of opportunities to transport products via the Hudson, in the context of waterfront revitalization efforts. For example, might there be staging area to connect trucks used to aggregate goods from small farms with barges?

• Creation of a Hudson Valley Public market to serve as a tourist destination as well as food emporium with wholesale and retail outlets.

• Funding for funding pavilions, buildings and other infrastructure needed to for farmers markets throughout the Valley itself.

• Creation of a ‘one stop shop’ to provide services for new and existing farmers. All agencies created to support farmers should begin to deliver services in a coordinated, efficient manner that reflects the current and future farm economy, not the past.

2. When creating new distribution companies and wholesalers, employ corporate and financial structures that ensure that farmers continue to receive a fair price and profits don’t migrate to middlemen.

3. Ensure that farmers are able to access appropriate, needed credit.

4. Strengthen/expand the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation to the extent possible. If necessary, create a new economic development corporation or authority to support agriculture, with the fullest possible authority to facilitate financing, credit and loans, as well as the ability to make direct loans to farmers and agriculturally-related businesses.

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