Press Releases
- Regional Council Unveils 5 Year Plan
HVADC’s Executive Director. Todd Erling, participated in the Capital Region Economic Development Council efforts to develop a 5 year strategy. Mr. Erling’s successfully advocated for the inclusion of agriculture and related food business industries into the conversation and ultimately the final plan.
- Hudson Valley Bounty’s “The Art of Local” Event Showcases Wines, Brews, Cheeses And More
Rhinebeck, NY – May 13, 2011 – This Father’s Day, the Hudson Valley Bounty brings “The Art of Local” tasting event to the Rhinebeck area. Showcasing the craftsmanship of local food artisans, the June 19th event is a great opportunity to treat Dad to tastings from local specialty makers of artisan cheese, beer, wine, vodka, whiskey and bourbon.
- 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.”
- What’s new in the business scene?
February 22, 2011
IDA supports agri-business initiative — The Ulster County Industrial Development Agency voted unanimously at its recent meeting to approve a $25,000 grant to the Hudson Valley Agricultural Development Corp. The IDA is a public authority governed by a seven-member board appointed by the county Legislature. It provides tax incentives, [...] - GROWTH INDUSTRY: Agriculture helps region’s economy
Published: Sunday, February 20, 2011
By ARIEL ZANGLA-GIRARD
Freeman staff
ECONOMIC development has not traditionally focused on agriculture and the needs of farmers, but one group in the Hudson Valley has been working for several years to fill that gap and help make farming viable.
Formed in 2006, the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp. has [...] - Fresh fish fill the tanks at Local Ocean
By Jamie Larson
Published: Friday, November 6, 2009 2:14 AM EST
An old fashioned bucket brigade was put to an interesting use Thursday, as thousands of summer flounder were moved hand over hand, in ten gallon buckets, from the back of a truck into the incubation tanks at the Local Ocean indoor aquaculture fish farm in [...] - New Board Member and Project Manager Welcomed
HVADC welcomes New Board Member Mark Doyle and Project Manager Mary Ann Johnson, AICP
The Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation (HVADC) is pleased to announce additions to the Board of Directors and the staff. Mark Doyle, a farm consultant based in Amenia, has joined the Board bringing expertise in farmland and habitat management, farm development planning and coordination and capacity building for emerging farm business opportunities.
Mary Ann Johnson, AICP has joined the staff has Project Manager for Orange and Ulster Counties. Ms. Johnson primary responsibility is to provide support for the Incubator Without Walls program, which provides comprehensive business assistance including access to qualified professionals, financing and networking.
- Columbia County Bounty Hires an Executive Director
Bounty taps Simons as first Exec Director
CHATHAM-Columbia County Bounty has gone the next step in its own growth, hiring its first part-time executive director, Vicki Simons. Bounty creates connections between local farmers and local culinary businesses as well as reaching out to consumers who want to eat food locally grown.
Bounty runs a series of events, from the upcoming May 11th Farm Tour to its popular Taste of Columbia County Bounty dinner August 3rd, a Garden of Eating Tour in mid-September, the Chili Cook-Off & Riverfront Fest October 10th, a Chef Tour in November and its extremely well-attended Speed Networking in January. The events are detailed at www.columbiacountybounty.com and are open to everyone. Bounty membership ($25 per person, $40 per couple) is required.
- HVADC honored for its regional vision
HUDSON—Pattern for Progress has recognized Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corp.’s work with its annual Regional Achievement Award.
Pattern’s annual awards recognize leaders in the Hudson Valley whose vision and/or accomplishments have had a long lasting impact on the quality of life in the region, or express the potential to do so.
Pattern for Progress, based in Newburgh and serving nine counties, is a not-for-profit policy, planning advocacy and research organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life for Hudson Valley residents.
HVADC won the Regional Achievement category based on its success in gaining support from both Orange and Columbia Counties for an industry-based vision that has quickly expanded to Ulster and Dutchess Counties.
- New Regional Agency To Spur Agri-Business
Hudson Valley agriculture stands at a critical juncture. As development pressures creep up the Valley, more and more farmers are faced with decisions about the value of their land versus the value of staying in farming. Major changes in the agriculture business both create new market opportunities and make greater demands on a weakened agriculture infrastructure. The result: to remain a viable economic activity, agriculture must change or gradually get squeezed out.
If these key issues are not addressed creatively in the next several years, farmers and residents in the Valley may find themselves in the middle of exurban sprawl, rather than beautiful working farmlands.