{"id":80819,"date":"2017-05-15T17:26:21","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T21:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=80819"},"modified":"2017-05-14T22:16:22","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T02:16:22","slug":"stirpe-buy-local-and-support-our-communitys-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=80819","title":{"rendered":"Stirpe: Buy local and support our community’s farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Al Stirpe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We\u2019re lucky to have so many great farms here in Onondaga County. They help make our communities more vibrant, providing delicious and wholesome foods and beverages, as well as family fun activities and community events. Owning and maintaining a farm takes a lot of hard work and despite the challenges they face, farmers give back to our communities in so many ways. Together, we can do our part to support farmers by visiting farmers markets and buying locally sourced food, so that they can continue providing the great products we all love.<\/p>\n

As a member of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, I\u2019m always looking for ways to make farmers\u2019 jobs easier. By helping farmers succeed, we can help boost our local economy. The costs of farming can be especially burdensome on beginner and small, family-owned farms. That\u2019s why I\u2019m fighting to cut red tape for farmers. I sponsored a bill to reduce the food processing license fee for non-chain, small-scale food processors and entrepreneurs to ensure that these food providers can flourish (A.823-A). I also co-sponsored the Buy from the Backyard Act \u2013 a measure that would require the state Office of General Services (OGS) and other state agencies to buy 20 percent of their food products from producers and farmers in New York State (A.2185). This legislation ensures state agencies support our state\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

I also helped fight for farmers in this year\u2019s state budget by including a 25 percent tax credit on qualified food donations that they make to food banks, up to $5,000 per year. This measure reduces costs of operations and surpluses for local farmers, while also helping local families put food on their tables. Further, the state budget allocates funding to help dairy producers protect water quality at their farming facilities.<\/p>\n

To learn more about our local farms and see all of the terrific products they offer, here\u2019s a list of weekly farmers markets throughout our region:<\/p>\n