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New Farmer Development Project

Contact Name & Title: Michelle Hughes, Project Associate
Address: 51 Chambers St. #1231
City, State & Zipcode: New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 341-2256
Email: mhughes@greenmarket.cc
Web Address: http://www.cenyc.org/

Project Description:

The New Farmer Development Project (NFDP) was established in 2000 as a partnership between the Council on the Environment’s Greenmarket program and Cornell University Cooperative Extension’s New York City Programs. The project identifies, educates, and supports immigrants in New York City with agricultural experience to become local producers and establish small farms in the region. The NFDP provides hands-on and classroom training, opportunities to manage demonstration farms, access to New York City’s farmers markets, small credit opportunities, and one-on-one support and technical assistance for new immigrant farmers. They have helped five families start their own farm operations, and approximately 20 new farmers currently grow produce on training farms, established local farms with mentor farmers, and their own farms.

Mission: The New Farmer Development Project identifies, educates and supports agriculturally experienced immigrants in the NYC region to establish economically and environmentally sound small-scale farm operations, to preserve regional farmland, strengthen farmers’ markets, and expand access to high-quality, locally-grown farm products.

Sponsoring Organization: Greenmarket/Council on the Environment, Inc. and Cornell Cooperative Extension/NYC Programs
Immigrant Communities Served: Latin American immigrants
Languages Spoken: English and Spanish
Agricultural Crops & Products: Vegetables, small fruits, herbs, flowers, poultry, eggs. The NFDP works with ethnic crops and heirloom varieties in addition to standard crops.
Areas of Expertise: Immigrant Farmer Training Curriculum, Small Farm Loan Programs, Mentorship, Marketing, Farmer Advisory Committee, Community Development
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