Anne L. Alonzo is the Administrator of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which supports farmers markets and local and regional food systems through grants, research and technical assistance.
By Anne L. Alonzo
New York State Fair season is the perfect time to celebrate New York farmers and ranchers growing delicious food, strengthening local economies and bringing communities together. As more Americans want to know where our food comes from, we also have a growing number of opportunities to get to know our local growers. From farmers markets to food hubs, strong local food systems connect rural and urban communities and play a key role in increasing access to fresh, healthy food for all Americans.
That's why U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has identified strengthening local food systems as one of the four pillars of rural economic development and job creation. With sales topping $11 billion in 2014, local food is an economic engine for small and mid-sized food producers everywhere. In fact, local food systems are maturing beyond farmers markets into grocery stores, restaurants, schools and other institutions.
USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative coordinates support for local and regional food systems across agencies. In New York, USDA has invested in 758 local food projects to expand markets for local food from the state's 35,000 farms. These investments have a big impact, creating jobs and opportunities throughout the state and the rest of the nation.
I'm proud to lead the Agricultural Marketing Service, one of the USDA agencies that provide critical support to farmers markets and local food businesses through technical assistance, research and financial resources. Last year, AMS awarded $26.6 million in competitive grants though the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, including 24 grants totaling over $1.6 million to help grow markets for New York producers.
USDA is also making it easier for farmers to accept federal nutrition assistance benefits, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Since 2009, the number of SNAP-authorized farmers and farmers markets has grown from 753 to more than 6,400, including Syracuse's CNY Regional Market. That's great news for farmer families and consumers.
This week I'm in the Empire State for a roundtable with New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard Ball and other local leaders. Working together, we can do even more to help farmers and ranchers take advantage of the growing demand for local food.
The roundtable - hosted at the Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) Center - will focus on women in agriculture-related jobs. Like WISE, USDA started a Woman in Ag Mentoring Network, with more than 800 members, demonstrating the growing interest in the business of agriculture from a new, diverse generation of leaders. You can join the network by emailing agwomenlead@usda.gov.
A recent USDA report on Employment Opportunities for College Graduates estimates over the next five years there will be an average of 57,900 high-skilled job openings annually in the food, renewable natural resources and environmental fields, but only about 35,400 graduates to fill them. More than a quarter will be in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related fields. While other university programs have encountered challenges enrolling women in STEM specialties, women make up more than half of the graduates in these ag-related fields.
I'm also looking forward to celebrating New York agriculture and local products at the State Fair and the CNY Regional Market Farmers' Market while I'm in Syracuse. With so many people pulling together, I know that the future is bright for the next generation of producers and local food in New York.