Farm to Market Connection success!

We are grateful to the over 150 farm and food business people who came out for this year's Farm to Market Connection. The event covered topics including buying clubs, local flour production, financing local food business and much more. We've already received some great input for next year's event and heard about business connections made!

Ken Jaffe of Slope Farms and Andrew Tarlow of Diner and Marlow & Sons speak about nose-to-tail beef utilization during a workshops session.

Dave Peake of Cowbella with Allison Bennett of Red Jacket Orchards.

Brett and Sara Budde of Majestic Farm.

Mark Harvey of Good Fields Farm with Denise Warren of Stone & Thistle Farm.

Fielding questions from the audience during the Buyer's Panel.

A great showing for "The Greenhorns" at the Catskill Arts Society.

Local farmers and food enthusiasts packed the Catskill Arts Society gallery on Saturday night for a screening of "The Greenhorns." This recently released documentary film profiles young farmers across America. Check out the trailer of the film along with some photos from the event below.

Stay tuned or contact us for details on additional screenings across the Catskills region this summer and fall!

Patrick Kiley of the Greenhorns with Paul of Gorzynski Ornery Farm.

Sampling Living Leaf Kimchi with Pepacton Natural Foods.

Ann Manby with her Sugar Blossoms Flowers bouquets and Rick Pereira of

Manifold Custom Design.

Victoria Lesser of the Old North Branch Inn with Trina Pilonero of

Silver Heights Farm Nursery.

The crowd gathers around the Main Street Farm goods!

Maple Weekend and more

Glass bottles from Catskill Mountain Sugar House last summer at the farmers' market.

The sap is running and the region is covered in sweet events to help you connect with our syrup makers. The New York State Maple Producers Association organizes a series of open (sap) houses, demonstrations and tastings across the state as part of Maple Weekend.

Plan a visit in the coming two weekends - March 19 - 20 & 26 - 27. Follow the links for details on the dozens of participating farms in the Pure Catskills region:

Participating farms in Delaware County

Delaware County pancake breakfasts:

North Franklin Maple Syrup Company

13501 Route 357

Franklin, NY

Saturday & Sunday, 8 am to 1 pm

Both weekends

Col. Harper Grange #1508

Shaver-Hill Maple Farm

450 Shaver Road

Harpersfield, NY

Pancakes, sausage, fruit, applesauce, coffee, tea, milk, juice. Real maple syrup.

March 26th 9am-4pm

March 27th 9am-4pm

Greene County pancake breakfast:

Sugar Moon Maple

West Kill-Lexington Community Center

141 Spruceton Road

West Kill, NY

March 27 only

Participating farms in Otsego County

Participating farms in Schoharie County

Schoharie County pancake breakfasts:

Maple Hill Farm

Maple Syrup & Organic Pancakes at Grapevine Farms

2373 State Route 7

Cobleskill, NY

Serving Pancakes every weekend in March from 9-3

Phone: (518) 234-9148

Stone House Farms

305 Lynk Road

Sharon Springs, NY

Saturday & Sunday, 8 am to 1 pm

both weekends

Phone: (518) 284-2476

Participating farms in Ulster County

Located in Sullivan County? Slow Food Upper Delaware River Valley has organized a tour to five farms in the county on March 19th. The tour includes Porkupine Lodge, Muthig Farm, Justus Asthalter Maple Syrup, Catskill Mountain Sugar House and Thunder Hill Sugar Shack. Each stop along the way will include demonstrations and tastings. The event fee is $20 per person or $30 per couple. All proceeds will benefit Community Unity. For more details, contact Clair Sullivan at (845) 557-3642 or upderiva@gmail.com.

In the Hudson Valley? Check out the Hudson Valley Food Network's guide to Maple Syrup Festivals.

Now's the time to join a CSA

Tannis Kowalchuck of Willow Wisp Organic Farm with her fantastic cut flowers.

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is an increasingly popular way to grow your connection with a farm in your community. Members of a CSA receive a regular, often weekly, box of vegetables after purchasing a share in the farm each spring. Many farms offer optional add-on shares of local products including fruit, flowers and eggs. Additional contact information and details on each unique share programs are in links included below.

Learn more about joining a CSA from Local Harvest.

GORZYNSKI ORNERY FARM, Cochecton Center -- Pick up at the farm. Contact John or Sue at (845) 252-7570.

LUCKY DOG FARM, Hamden -- Pick up at Lucky Dog Farm Store. Certified Organic. Optional egg share. Contact Holley at (607) 746-8383 or haw@delhitel.net.

MOUNTAIN DELL FARM, Hancock -- Pick up on the farm and in Hancock. Farmer’s Pledge. Contact Lisa or Mark at (607) 467-4034 or mldunau@tds.net.

NEVERSINK FARM, Claryville -- Pick up at the farmstand on Saturdays. Certified Organic. Optional flower and egg shares. Contact Conor at (845) 985-2519 or farmer@neversinkfarm.com.

RUSTY PLOUGH FARM, Ellenville -- Multi-farm collaborative; choice of pick-up locations in Ulster and Sullivan counties. Certified Organic. Online buying club arrangement with weekly customer choice of products. Also offering seedlings, crafts and pastured pork shares. Contact Oleh at (845) 647-6911 or rustyplough@earthlink.net.

STONELEDGE FARM, South Cairo -- Pick up on the farm and at additional regional locations. Certified Organic. Optional of low-spray fruit, honey and maple shares. Contact Kathleen at (518) 622-9963 or kokeefe@mhcable.com.

STONY CREEK FARM, Walton -- Pick up locations in Oneonta, Franklin and on the farm. Optional working share. Contact Kate at (607) 865-7965 or kate@stonycreekfarm.org.

BIG SKY FARM, Schenevus -- Pick up in Cooperstown. Optional egg, meat and cider shares. Contact Vali or Marybeth at (607) 638-9016 or info@bigskyfarm.org.

WILLOW WISP ORGANIC FARM, Damascus, PA -- Pick up on the farm. Summer shares (June to November) and Winter shares (December to May) available. Certified Organic. Contact Greg or Tannis at (570) 224-8013 or greg@willowwisporganic.com.

The Farm to Market Connection is coming

Tasting and talking during the trade show at last year's conference.

March 27th, 9 am to 5 pm

CVI Building, One Cablevision Center

Liberty, NY

It's that time of year again! Our big annual conference and member gathering is just over a month away. It's a day of networking and education for business people involved with local food in the Catskills region and beyond. Last year's attendees came from four states and all across New York State.

Dozens of past attendees have told us about lasting business connections they have made as a result of attending. Buyers of all scales will be present from local retailers to regional distributors. Educational topics will suit the interest of vegetable, livestock and dairy producers.

We've convened a sold out crowd at this event for the past three years. So if you're a farmer, retailer, restaurateur, specialty food producer, distributor, farmers' market staffer or working to support agricultural economic development reserve your tickets today!

Visit our Eventbrite page for purchasing details.

Cure the winter blues

Who says nothing is happening during the winter? The February calendar is filling up with farm and food events that will put an end to your cabin fever!

Upper Delaware River Roundtable

Thursday, February 3, 1 to 4:30 pm

Tusten Town Hall, Bridge Street, Narrowsburg

The February meeting of the Roundtable will focus on agriculture with speakers from numerous organizations and agencies in the Delaware Valley region. Contact roundtable@upperdelaware.com or Laurie Stuart at (845) 252-6626.

Farm to School/Institution meeting

Saturday, February 12, 1 to 4 pm

SUNY Delhi, Delhi

Organized by Farm Catskills, this meeting will convene farmers, cafeteria/dining program directors, school board members, parents and community members to discuss the expansion of farm to school connections.

Knitting & Crocheting

Saturday, February 12, 10 am to 3 pm

Delaware County Historical Association, Delhi

Adults and children alike are encouraged to come learn to knit or crochet or refresh their rusty knitting or crocheting skills. Registration required by February 5th. Cost $35.00 per person. Contact (607) 746-3849 ordcha@delhi.net

Being Green, Making Green

Tuesday, February 15, 7 pm

Okun Theatre, Farrell Student Center, SUNY Delhi

The Food for Thought committee presents a panel discussion on local food as a business; how & why people get involved; the challenges & rewards; why it's important; & the future. Free event! Contact Mary Pysnik at (607) 746-4783.

Wholesale Success Workshop

Thursday, February 17

Teleconference locations at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange and Ulster Counties

A one day event exploring successful wholesaling techniques for small and mid-sized farms, including a "Meet-the-Buyers" session. A farmer-friendly overview of current food safety issues included as well as information on the certification process presented by Cornell's GAP expert, Betsy Binh. Contact Michael Morris at (917) 838-2309 ormmorris@greenmarket.grownyc.org to register.

A Talk with Joel Salatin and Hudson Valley Farmers

Saturday, February 19, 10 am - 2:30 pm

Woodstock Elementary School

Cost: $25, including lunch

Presented by the Woodstock Land Conservancy and the Woodstock Farm Festival. Mr. Salatin will discuss why food, farms and eating local matter with a panel of local farmers.Register online or contact mreynolds.wlc@gmail.com or (845) 679-5345.

Seed & Sow Skill Share

Sunday, February 20, 11 am to 3 pm

Hodgson Farm and Garden Center

Organized by the Hudson Valley Food Network, this skill share will include talks on raising chickens, mushroom propagation, organic gardening, sausage making and fermented sodas. Contact Meghan Murphy at hvfoodnetwork@gmail.com.

Don't forget that Winter Farmers' Markets are still happening! Check our webcalendar for upcoming dates.

Diggin' the Sullivan County Farm Network

Sonja Hedlund of Apple Pond Farm shares the story behind the recently formed Sullivan County Farm Network with us today. This diverse group of farmers is working to organize the agricultural community in the county through events and advocacy. To learn more about the Network, follow them on Facebook or join in the discussion at the next Delaware Valley Roundtable. The February 3rd meeting of the Roundtable which will focus on agriculture is taking place at the Tusten Town Hall in Narrowsburg from 1 to 4:30 pm.

Farm Network members meet to learn about microcreameries.

A small group of energetic, dedicated farm women got together last spring to promote farming in Sullivan County. They formed the Sullivan County Farm Network. The mission of the Network is to increase farming activities in Sullivan County and strengthen communication between those who grow food and those who eat it.

Projects we have worked on alone and with others include include: FARMSTOCK 2011 agri-tourism program, winter farmers' market in Callicoon, meat producers list, a workshop on setting up a micro dairy, WJFF Radio's new 'Farm and Country' show, database of farmers in the county, 'You are what you eat' workshop, and new farm to school programs in three local schools.

Of equal importance is work to present an agricultural perspective at public meetings on economic development. Attending meetings of IDA/the Industrial Development Authority has resulted in more attention to agricultural issues and to follow through on long awaited projects like the red meat slaughter plant in Liberty. Similar interactions have happened at the newly formed Economic Development Corporation. At the County level, speaking at open meetings of the legislature, the Network has advocated for hiring an ag economic development specialist.

The Network's meetings are now attracting a wide variety of farmers, citizens, not - for profit agencies and those with public sector jobs related to agriculture, tourism and economic development. These may well be the only place in Sullivan where people sit at the same table to address issues related to food and farming.