Cornell Cooperative Extension

Lewis County
outdoor market

New York State Grown & Certified Producers Grant Program

In partnership with CCE and Soil and Water Conservation offices, the Development Authority of the North Country has launched the regional New York State Grown & Certified Agriculture Producer’s Grant program to help North Country producers meet the food safety standards necessary for participation in the certification program.

The Development Authority received a $500,000 grant through North Country Regional Economic Development Council to implement the program in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Franklin, Essex and Hamilton counties. The funding comes from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, which oversees the NYS Grown & Certified program.

The program is open to agricultural producers in the seven North Country counties who want to become certified in the NYS Grown & Certified Program. Eligible commodities include produce, dairy, shellfish, eggs, beef, poultry, pork, maple products, alcoholic beverages, and beverage ingredients. New commodities are being added to the list, such as processed products and firewood. Applicants are required to contribute 10 percent of the total project cost in the form of cash equity. Eligible producers can apply for grant funding of up to $50,000.    

 Apply here

The NYS Grown & Certified Program was designed to strengthen consumer confidence in New York products and assist farmers so they can take advantage of the growing market demand for locally grown foods that are produced to a higher standard. Certified producers are able to use a special New York State seal that indicates the producer adheres to higher standards of food safety and environmental stewardship.

Cornell Cooperative Extension offices throughout the seven-county North Country will provide technical assistance to producers, including assistance with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). Soil and Water Conservation offices in the seven counties will assist grant recipients with Agriculture Environmental Management (AEM).

For more information or application materials, contact Michelle Capone, Director of Regional Development at the Development Authority, at 315-661-3200, or mcapone@danc.org.

Last updated June 28, 2021

Local Foods

GAP

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) are voluntary audits that verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored as safely as possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards. Find out more about GAP and contact us for assistance.

NYS Grown & Certified

Governor Andrew Cuomo launched NYS Grown & Certified in 2016 to help meet the growing consumer demand for local foods grown or produced to a higher standard. The program certifies New York State producers who adhere to high food safety and environmental stewardship standards. It is supported by a marketing campaign including on-product labels, promotional materials, such as the NYS Grown & Certified website, and sales materials, to educate retail and wholesale buyers on the value of the program. For more information on NYS Grown & Certified, visit certified.ny.gov, or follow the program on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.