Onondaga County Agriculture Council meet to promote local farms and businesses

Pompey, N.Y. — Members of the Onondaga County Agriculture Council met on Thursday For his or her annual “Buy Native. Buy Onondaga Grown” advertising campaign — a advertising campaign designed to get the group to assist their local farms and companies.

The Onondaga Grown Kick-off event comes a yr after the Covid-19 pandemic, a time which Dave Knapp, Onondaga County chairman, calls “restoration mode”. The council met to announce a collection of events for the group to get out and assist local farms like Albanese Longhorns.

“Being new to this Onondaga Grown factor is Greater than I assumed,” Mike Albanese, proprietor of Albanese Longhorns, said. “I really feel it’s important that we get that assist from local people. Which will spotlight local companies, not solely agriculture however small companies.”

All by way of final yr’s kick-off, A lot of questions and considerations have been raised about what was going to happen to local farms and companies, Knapp said. Some dairy farms Needed to dump gallons of milk, the placeas grocery shops Needed To place limits on how a lot clients might buy.

Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County authorities, said Definitely one of many important classes found Initially of the pandemic was how important meals safety is. The Most very important concern the council had was meals current chains And the method They will proceed To Make constructive the people Regionally are fed.

“We’re very fortunate On this county to have A strong financial system, the tenth hugest Inside the state, over $350 million of financial spending Yearly from these huge employers,” McMahon said. “And All of it comes Proper down to the household farms.”

That is the seventh annual event that the Onondaga County Agriculture Council has held. The advertising campaign started out as A method To promote local farms in Onondaga County by internet hosting events Throughout The world for the group to take part.

The events that have been introduced this yr have been the Empire Farm Days and the 2021 ON Farm Fest.

The council introduced that Empire Farm Days Shall be returning to the county after its 30-yr absence. Empire Farm Days is an agricultural commerce current, which Shall be held Aug. 2-4. Knapp said he expects to see an financial increase Inside the county by way of resorts And native companies.

The Onondaga County Agriculture Council additionally unveiled the 9 farms That are collaborating Inside the 2021 ON Farm Fest on Sep. 18. The farms that Shall be collaborating are:

• Emmi Farms
• Griddley’s Chilly Spring Beef Farm
• Tyson Farm and Feed
• Navarino Orchard
• Tim’s Pumpkin Patch
• Whitetail Tree Farm
• Barbland Dairy

This Shall be a free event Which will Think about educating the group on the place their meals comes from, the placeas promoting local farms and companies. ON Farm Fest returns For his or her fifth yr after being canceled final yr As a Outcome of of pandemic.

Albanese Longhorns is The mannequin new addition to the farms collaborating Inside the event. The farm, which is located right off of Route 20 shut to Pompey, had their first open house on June 26. Jason Hartline, Albanese’s son-in-regulation, said the farm noticed over 250 visitors.

“Which is good, Beset off it simply reveals group assist,” Hartline said. “They like what we are doing And completely different people like Longhorns.”

You’d usually Uncover a Texas Longhorn — in Texas.

“Longhorns aren’t one factor you see Daily in Central Ny,” Knapp said.

Texas Longhorns are what make Albanese Longhorns stand out from completely different farms. When will you see Texas Longhorns in Central Ny?

It is One extra set off why the council decided To maintain the Onondaga Grown Kick-Off at Albanese Longhorns this yr — it’s one factor nice and distinctive.

“We Try and get Throughout the county and exactly promote numerous farms,” Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County authorities, said. “This Is usually An excellent household farm and it’s distinctive. Every time a household Just like the Albanese household is prepared to open up their livelihoods to us To spotlight it — it’s An exact plus.”