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Press Releases

Friday, November 30, 2007
Contact: Jessica A. Chittenden
518-457-3136
jessica.chittenden@agmkt.state.ny.us
COMMISSIONER GATHERS PRIDE OF NY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Announces New Committee Members; Holds First Meeting
 

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced his appointments to the Pride of New York Advisory Committee, which held its first meeting in Albany this week. The Advisory Committee will provide advice and guidance to the Commissioner, as well as support for the goals of the Pride of New York program.

"Consumers have never been so interested in buying local food and agricultural products and the Pride of New York has been an incredibly valuable and effective tool in helping consumers of all types identify New York products," the Commissioner said. "I look forward to working with this group of dynamic industry leaders and hearing their personal experiences and opinions to help us build upon the existing success and visibility of the Pride of New York program."

The Pride of New York is the State’s marketing and promotion program that generates interest and demand for New York food and agricultural products. Currently, the program has over 2,000 members statewide that include growers, wineries, food processors, foodservice and retail outlets, agri-tourism initiatives and other organizations that support New York agriculture.

The Advisory Committee is made up of 24 individuals who represent a broad range of New York State food commodities, industries, and services. The committee will be asked to examine the current activities of the Pride of New York program, particularly as they relate to the changing and diverse needs of the food and agriculture industry, and provide the Department with guidance for the Program’s further development and future direction. The Committee members are:

- Jim Allen, New York Apple Association (Ontario County)

- Richard Ball, Schoharie Valley Farms (Schoharie County)

- Diane Eggert, Farmers Market Federation of New York (Onondaga County)

- David Evans, Evans’ Farmhouse (Chenango County)

- Dave Evans, Nelson Farms (Madison County)

- Tom Facer, Farm Fresh First, LLC (Wayne County)

- Carol Gillis, New York State Beef Industry Council (Oneida County)

- Martha Goodsell, Fallow Hollow Farms (Tioga County)

- Dwayne Hill, New York State Maple Producers (Delaware County)

- Bruce Krupke, New York Dairy Foods Inc. (Onondaga County)

- Michele Ledoux, Lewis County Cooperative Extension (Lewis County)

- Brian Nicholson, Red Jacket Orchards (Ontario County)

- Robert Norris, New York State Christmas Tree Farmers (Wayne County)

- Gene Pierce, Glenora Wine Cellars (Yates County)

- John Radliff, New York Farm Bureau (Schoharie County)

- Brian Reeves, Reeves Farms (Onondaga County)

- Jim Rogers, Food Industry Alliance of New York State (Albany County)

- Brad Rosenstein, New York State Restaurant Association (Albany County)

- Jim Sollecito, Sollecito Landscaping and Nursery (Onondaga County)

- Jim Trezise, New York State Wine and Grape Foundation (Ontario County)

- Jim Vincent, L-Brooke Farms (Genesee County)

- Lyle Wells, Wells Homestead Acres (Suffolk County)

- Bob Weybright, Dutchess County Cooperative Extension (Dutchess County)

- Bill Young, Upstate Niagara Cooperative (Genesee County)

The Advisory Committee met on Wednesday, November 28 in Albany for their first meeting. At the meeting they discussed opportunities to maximize the growing interest in the "buy local" movement, increasing consumer awareness and recognition of the Pride of New York logo, and building the Program as a resource for buyers interested in sourcing New York products. The Department plans to have this committee meet on a biannual basis.

The Pride of New York program was founded by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets over a decade ago as a program to promote and support the State’s agricultural industry by raising the consumer’s awareness of food and agricultural products grown and processed in New York State. In doing so, the program assists farmers and food processors in branding their products by using the Pride of New York emblem. It also encourages retailers and restaurants to highlight the New York State products they use and sell by displaying the emblem.

For more information on the Pride of New York Program, visit http://www.prideofny.org.

Photo: http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/images/PrideAdvisory0283.jpg

2007 Press Releases