Schumer called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to fund the CIA’s efforts, helping create new economic opportunities for farmers in Dutchess County and throughout the Hudson Valley. “Stores, markets and restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley should be filled with locally grown products from right here in Dutchess County,” said Schumer. “With The Culinary Institute of America leading the way, and the USDA funding behind them, this partnership of local organizations and community farmers can serve as an economic boost to the region, all while providing delicious, high-quality food.”

“The Culinary Institute of America believes that there is an inextricable link between chefs and farmers, and we support sustainable practices through education and research across our curriculum,” said Dr. Tim Ryan, CMC, president of The Culinary Institute of America. “We are very grateful for Senator Schumer’s recognition of these initiatives, and the opportunity to expand them with grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With his help, we know the CIA will be able to work with farmers to grow sustainable agriculture in the Hudson Valley.”

“This bolsters Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation’s Food and Beverage Alliance initiative and growing this priority sector,” said Mike Oates, president of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation. “We applaud Senator Schumer’s support and efforts and we are thrilled to partner with Dr. Tim Ryan and the world-class Culinary Institute of America. It is critically important that we work to support and expand this cluster in the Hudson Valley.”

Schumer was joined by CIA President Tim Ryan, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation President Mike Oates, representatives from Crown Maple Syrup, Continental Organics, farmers and economic-development officials from throughout the Hudson Valley as he announced his push to help the CIA tap USDA funding to create a new Sustainable Farming Program. Through the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program and the Beginning Farmer Development program, the CIA would be able to specialize its Sustainable Farming Program to help Hudson Valley farmers grow products that are currently in demand at local stores and restaurants in the Hudson Valley and help to introduce them to new products and new markets that will ultimately add to the growth of their bottom line. Through its Sustainable Farming Program, the CIA is committed to purchasing local, sustainable food, and also works to influence local businesses and chefs to do the same. The combination of these two programs can create new business opportunities and new jobs across the Hudson Valley, all while increasing sustainable practices and helping local farmers become more profitable.

The SARE grant program would allow the CIA to focus on marketing and research of supply and demand of current crops and products in the Hudson Valley, as well as the need for new or specialty products. Using key network contacts and polling, the CIA and the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) would work to identify new markets and needs for crops or food products, and then work with farmers and businesses to implement plans to locally grow and produce these needed products. The SARE program would also focus on sustainable farming and production in the Hudson Valley, which would not harm current yields, but rather would identify niche products that can be produced alongside currently produced items.

The CIA’s Sustainable Farming Program would also research the supply-and-demand side to find crop and livestock diversity to parallel the necessary business and investment demands of dual-yielding revenue streams to increase a business’s chance to be profitable and attract new investments for new products. The program works to develop the best marketing practices for farmers and businesses so that their products can be exposed to new markets and outlets in the Hudson Valley. This would allow farms and businesses to find suitable products that can be grown or produced in combination with their current yields—in some instances, adding certain new crops or even animal-grazing techniques will increase their current yields, all while adding a new product to their business, at a minimum cost.

Schumer is also pushing for the USDA to select the CIA as a recipient of the Beginning Farmer Development program. If selected, the CIA will use this investment to provide more programs, courses and instructional series for farmers and business leaders in the Hudson Valley in regards to sustainable farming, working with restaurants and marketing products for new uses. The Sustainable Farming Program would also teach the best ways to grow specialty or new crops without harming current cash crops. The HVEDC would help to identify the needs for educational development in various Hudson Valley food and farming sectors, and would help develop continuing education and professional-development courses at the CIA.

Through the Beginning Farmer Development program investment, the CIA would also identify areas in which these programs could be folded into degree- and certificate-yielding courses, as well as current courses offered in four-year programs for students seeking bachelor’s degrees. Also, the CIA would look to develop mastery-level courses, which would help current Hudson Valley businesses identify the educational needs of their leaders and workers and allow the CIA to bring in specialty and well-known educators to offer short-, medium- and long-term educational programs.

The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation will use its regional network of food-and-beverage sector industries to identify the need for employee education and training, and help to develop the necessary courses to strengthen the knowledge and practices allowing Hudson Valley businesses to succeed and grow in a new and unique economy.

Caption: Via a press conference with CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan (r.) at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., on September 30, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a plan to secure USDA funding to help the college and Hudson Valley farmers get more locally grown products into restaurants and stores. Courtesy of CIA/Keith Ferris.