MOHAWK — Last fall, the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD), in partnership with Schoharie County, launched the Mohawk Valley Farm and Agribusiness Network (MVFAN) as a clearinghouse for farms and agribusinesses to provide information, resources, networking, and more. The network is the next iteration of the former Mohawk Valley Food Action Network, formed in […]
MOHAWK — Last fall, the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD), in partnership with Schoharie County, launched the Mohawk Valley Farm and Agribusiness Network (MVFAN) as a clearinghouse for farms and agribusinesses to provide information, resources, networking, and more. The network is the next iteration of the former Mohawk Valley Food Action Network, formed in 2010 by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County and other partners to strengthen the local food system and promote efforts that increased food-system business opportunities. The group went by the wayside, says MVEDD Deputy Director Heather Devitt, but a roundtable session last year in Schoharie County revealed that farmers and agribusinesses really needed a place where they could get information about resources such as loans and grants available to them. Since MVEDD still owned the www.mvfoodaction.org URL, Devitt says the district decided to create MVFAN as a subcommittee and revive that website. The new site launched in October 2023. “For the most part, it’s a clearinghouse,” says Devitt. It lists information on loans and grants, other programs, state and county resources, and even includes links to things like local farmer’s markets. “Everyone wants to support farmers,” Amanda Whalen, MVEDD clean energy community coordinator, says. MVFAN is a way to give that support and provide vital information. The best part, she says, is that MVFAN has already done the work, researching what funding is available for what projects and providing links to more information or online applications. Farmers and other agribusinesses can access the site during their own time, taking what information from it they need. But they can also reach out to MVEDD if they need more help, Whalen notes. “I don’t know how to farm, but I can help people fill out paperwork,” she quips. Beyond just providing information on the website, MVFAN is taking even more steps to not only provide information, but also present educational and networking opportunities. Last year, it hosted a workshop on becoming “New York State Grown and Certified.” “This was our way to connect the farmers … to funding,” Devitt notes. Along with providing all the information on how to become certified, the organization also provided information about funding available to help in that process. On Wednesday, March 6, MVFAM is hosting a free “Field To Fork Forum” in the town of Jefferson in Schoharie County, in conjunction with the New York State Restaurant Association for restauranteurs and farmers to discuss locally sourcing food. The goal is to help farmers learn what they need to do in order to supply local restaurants and to help eateries learn about the local food options available to them. “There’s going to be restaurants there,” Devitt says. “There’s going to be farmers there. There’s going to be a panel discussion.” There will also be a question-and-answer session and networking opportunities. “It helps the farms,” she says. “It helps the restaurants. It helps the Mohawk Valley economy.” The Mohawk Valley area was known as the breadbasket during the Revolutionary War because of its rich agricultural opportunities, and agriculture remains a large component of the area’s economy today, Devitt notes. “I think this is the time really for the resurgence of local farms,” she concludes.