FALL WORKSHOPS MICHELLE PROSCIA
Introduction to Organic Certification- October 14th: There were 35 registrants for the Intro to Organic Certification course taught by NOFA NY Director, Jessica Terry. She detailed the NYS Organic certification process, regulations and standards, marketing, projected costs, and funding availability. Wholesale Market Readiness for FarmersOctober 28th: Liz Higgins, Ag Business Management Specialist with Cornell University, and Michelle Proscia, Agriculture Educator with CCE Sullivan educated 22 registrants on how farms can prepare for selling on the wholesale market. This includes, labeling, recordkeeping, standardization of product, and marketing.
FARM TO SCHOOL ASHLEY TULLY
October was Farm to School Month. As part of this nationwide effort to promote Farm to School, CCE and Sullivan County students participated in educational programing about nutrition and local agriculture while hosting events focused on eating more NYS food. On October 21st, TriValley, Livingston Manor, Sullivan West, and Roscoe School Districts participated in the “Big Apple Crunch” challenge founded by FarmOn! Foundation, to show how big their student’s bite can be. At 2pm, students across these school districts took a bite into their NYS apples. Students also learned about different varieties and easy recipes for cooking with apples.
On October 28th, Sullivan West hosted their first Introduction to Farming - Farm to School Harvest October 26th: Ashely Tully, Fest event, bringing Ag Program Coordinator together local farmers, and Michelle Proscia, non-profits, and Future Agriculture Educator, Farmers of America (FFA) engaged 10 registrants to guide elementary and potential new school students in tasting farmers on the basics of local winter squash, starting a farm, including chocolate milk, and an site selection, ag taxes introduction to livestock by and zoning, farming Sullivan County 4-H staff. regulations, soil, business Over the course of two planning, and marketing. hours, classes visited
Page 6
Extension Connection
December 2021
stations where they heard directly from farmers and food service providers about where their food comes from and why nutrition is important to a healthy and happy life. As part of the Farm to School effort, CCE has worked with Livingston Manor and Roscoe Schools, to purchase local produce and meat from the Catskills Food Hub. In 2021, with additional food processing equipment, these school districts have increased their food processing power and purchased over $14,000 of local farm products for their student body. CCE Nutrition staff were also busy partnering with local school districts, Sullivan Renaissance, and the SNAP-Ed program teaching students about the veggies grown in the Catskills Edible Garden and how to create healthy and nutritious meals using seasonal ingredients.
