Politicians head to the food source

PINE PLAINS — New York State Sen. Greg Ball and Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro toured four local farms on Friday, Sept. 30, to speak with farmers about issues facing their businesses and to learn how the government can help expand the opportunities for sustainable agriculture in the Hudson Valley.The senator and the assemblyman visited Migliorelli Farms in Red Hook, Coach Dairy Farm in Pine Plains, McEnroe Farm in Millerton and McCarthy’s Farm in Pawling.At Coach Dairy Farm, Ball and Molinaro were given a tour of the cheese factory and the animal barns by Steve Margaritas, president, and Willard Bridgham, plant manager.Ball, who has an agricultural background and is very familiar with raising goats, joked and chatted freely with the people on the farm.Among the topics discussed during the tour was the need to break into exclusive farmers markets in New York City to gain access to more customers and stay profitable.“Look, the bumper sticker says it best, ‘No farms, no food.’ We must make sure that we maintain existing farms while getting young people to start new farm-based businesses. By linking farmers in the Hudson Valley to markets in the city and beyond that have a real demand for humanely and locally grown, high-quality products, these farmers will be able to make a real and lasting livelihood.”The senator is sponsoring a piece of legislation that would create the food Security, Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED) program, which would help low-income New Yorkers meet nutritional needs by promoting accessibility to locally produced farm goods.“Many low-income communities are under-served with little or no access to locally grown, quality produce,” said Ball.Ball plans on using the information he gathered from his conversation with farmers to create additional legislation that will help push New York toward the goal of becoming a leader in opportunities for sustainable agriculture.“I cannot imagine this state without its beautiful farm country. New York can either continue to see condos pop up where cows used to be or we can use our heads in government and invest in the infrastructure of farmers and green markets to provide direct opportunities for the next generation of farmers growing a local product that is humane, high quality and sustainable,” said Ball.