State grants to upgrade farmers' markets

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jul 23, 2004

State grants totaling more than $169,000 will go to 13 recipients of the Grow New York Farmers' Market Grant Program - which provides matching funds to help build new and improve existing farmers' markets across New York State. Markets in Canton, Carthage, Lowville, and Ithaca are included in the 13 recipients.

The Farmers' Market Grant Program provides up to $50,000 in matching funds for physical improvements to farmers' markets, which could include, but is not limited to, portable or fixed signage, site acquisition, preparation or improvement, and architectural designs.

The Farmers' Markets Grant Program is part of the Governor's Grow New York initiative, which incorporates numerous programs designed to enhance the economic vitality of agriculture in New York. Since the program's inception in 2000, Grow New York has provided a total of more than $5.4 million in competitive grants for farmers' market improvements, Pride of New York promotion, farmland viability plans, and research-and-development grants.

Specifically, Grow New York's Farmers' Markets Grant Program has awarded $567,000 to 43 farmers'-market improvemerit projects across the state. Currently. there are approximately 900 farmers participating in New York's 300 farmers' markets statewide.

The popularity of farmers' markets has grown considerably in New York and nationwide over the past 10 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that from 1994 to 2002 the number of farmers' markets increased 79 percent to over 3,100 markets across the country. In 2000, 19,000 farmers sold their produce only at farmers markets, bringing a larger share of the profit directly to the farmers' pockets.