Saratoga Spring, N.Y., October 4, 2012 —Farms contribute billions to New York’s economy, yet, since the 1980s, the state has lost more than 4,000 farms to development.  Harvesting Opportunities in New York: Growing Local Food Economies and Protecting Farmland is a conference designed to inspire and educate New Yorkers to support agriculture, strengthen local farm and food economies, and get involved in protecting farmland. The one-day conference will take place on November 15 at the Hotel Albany in downtown Albany, New York.
This conference will bring together farmers, public officials, land trusts, local food and public health leaders and concerned citizens to examine the potential to grow New York’s economy by strengthening connections between farmers and local consumers and protecting the land that is critical to farming.
The program will include remarks by Verlyn Klinkenborg a member of the New York Times Editorial Board, and author of The Rural Life, followed by a series of nine concurrent workshops. A locally sourced Thanksgiving-themed lunch will be served, along with a program featuring a presentation about farms across New York that were permanently protected last year through the state’s Farmland Protection Program.
“This conference will motivate New Yorkers to work together to grow our local food economies and save the irreplaceable farmland on which New York’s farmers depends,” said American Farmland Trust New York State Director David Haight.
The cost to attend Harvesting Opportunities is $85. Space is limited.  For more information and to register, visit http://newyork.farmland.org/harvesting-opportunities. Contact: David Haight, New York State Director, American Farmland Trust: (518) 581-0078,[email protected]