NY: COMMISSIONER AWARDS FEDERAL FUNDS FOR “BUY LOCAL” ADVERTISING
News Date November 17, 2009
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today awarded $127,000 in federal funds to 56 recipients of the Pride of New York “Buy Local” Cooperative Advertising Program. This funding was provided through the 2006 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program with the intentions to increase the sales and competitiveness of New York’s specialty crops. The Commissioner also announced an additional round of funding for the same program, which includes $129,000 made available from the 2007 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
“There has never been a more opportune time for the State’s farmers and food processors to promote their locally grown products than now,” the Commissioner said. “These grants will help enable producers to take advantage of the on-going ‘buy local trend’ by initiating advertising and marketing plans to help further direct consumers to their locally grown products. If a producer missed out on this round of funding, we are offering the same program again with 2007 funds that we received from USDA.”
The Pride of New York’s “Buy Local” Cooperative Advertising Grant Program was a pilot project of the Department that provided up to $5,000 in matching funds to members of the Pride of New York Program. These grants were offered on a first-come, first-served basis to help create and develop promotional messages, purchase media time, print space or signage or pursue other promotional activities. There were 153 applications submitted for the program and enough funding to fund 56 projects. The awards recipients are attached.
With federal funds the State obtained through the 2007 USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Commissioner also announced today the availability of $129,000 in matching funds to continue the “Buy Local” Cooperative Advertising Program. Round 2 of the program will again provide up to $5,000 to create and develop promotional messages, purchase media time, print space or signage or pursue other promotional activities, and will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. Applications for Round 2 can be found at http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/RFPS.html.
The Pride of New York program is the State’s marketing program for food and agricultural products grown or processed in New York State. The program was created to help consumers identify fresh, high-quality New York State products where they shop. The Pride of New York also assists farmers and food processors in branding their products by using the Pride of New York emblem, and encourages retailers and restaurants to highlight the New York State products they use and sell by displaying the emblem. To find out more about the Pride of New York Program, call 1-800-554-4501 or visit http://www.prideofny.com.
The federal funds used for this program were targeted to promote specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, maple, honey, wine, horticulture and nursery crops. Specialty crops generate $1.34 billion annually in New York and make up one-third of the State’s total agricultural receipts. They also rank high nationally in both production and economic value. For example, New York is the second largest state in the nation for apples, cabbage and maple syrup; third for grapes and cauliflower; and fourth for tart cherries, pear, snap beans and sweet corn. (Contact: Jessica Chittenden Ziehm, (518) 457-3136)