HVADC releases primer on Understanding Food Systems: Identifying Business Opportunities for Hudson Valley Farmers and Food Entrepreneurs
Hudson, NY – Growth in direct market agricultural sales continues in the Hudson Valley, even as the general economy has slowed. This growth, combined with an expansion in food related start-up businesses such as Farm to Table Co-Packers in Kingston, NY who froze over 150,000 lbs of local produce and made over 200,000 jars filled with local produce in the first few months of operation highlights a resurgence in the Region’s agribusiness cluster.
Sustaining this trend in the Valley is critical to both farmers and food consumers alike, and a key motivation for the release of “Understanding Food Systems: Identifying Business Opportunities for Hudson Valley Farmers and Food Entrepreneurs.” This “How-To-Guide” is being made available free of charge to farmers and food entrepreneurs in the Mid-Hudson by the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC). The Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation is a regional economic development agency dedicated to supporting growth in the food and agriculture sectors in Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties.
This guide provides a basic understanding of the economic relationships in the food industry ,the stretch from farmer to consumer that provide the underpinning of both local and regional food systems. The guide offers practical ways for farmers and food entrepreneurs to analyze the local food system structure and provides a set of direct and intermediated marketing tools to evaluate next steps in business development. Examples of how these tools are used both locally and nationally are included so entrepreneurs can explore how these options are functioning in the current marketplace.
“HVADC continues to serve as a valuable partner in agriculture and food processing as a viable part of our region’s economy. From growing, to processing, to distributing, selling and eating, HVADC’s new report will further assist Hudson Valley agriculturally-related businesses to understand how to make strategic partnerships and get their products to market” said March Gallagher, Ulster County Deputy Director of Planning for Economic Development.
Todd Erling, Executive Director of HVADC, states “This guide is designed to help those in the local food network expand and grow their businesses. With more than 18.5 million dollars of direct market sales in the mid Hudson region, the increased interest in fresh, local products, the farms and local food businesses are well positioned to take advantage of the area’s market potential.”
The publication is available in print from the HVADC office by calling 518-828-4718 or electronically by clicking here to download. (PDF, 5.9MB)
HVADC is the only economic development agency in the Hudson Valley with a specific focus on the viability of the agricultural economy in the region. HVADC’s mission is to enhance the agricultural sector in the Hudson Valley by assisting both new and existing agri-businesses, and supporting policies and regulations that recognize and support New York State’s agricultural economy.