Summer 2008 Newsletter
The NYS CFP conducted public listening sessions in Albany, Syracuse, New York City, Binghamton, Rochester, Harlem and Riverhead this spring. Anti-hunger advocates, farmers, processors, consumers, health care professionals, laborers, food service directors and many others delivered stimulating and insightful testimony about key food policy issue areas to the members of the NYS CFP. This input will be instrumental in developing effective recommendations for a State food policy strategic plan.

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Spring 2008 Newsletter
On March 1, about 70 people gathered for the annual meeting and conference of the New York Small Scale Food Processors’ Association (NYSSFPA). This conference brought together chefs, packers, bakers, livestock and produce farmers, as well as advocates of eating and buying locally.

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"Fostering Food Processing On Farms and In Communities" is the title of the 2008 Annual NY Small-Scale Food Processors' Association (NYSSFPA) conference to be held Saturday, March 1 at the Hudson Valley Foodworks in Poughkeepsie.

See the full press release here

Winter 2008 Newsletter
January is the start of a new year and a place for new marketing ideas. Marketing collaborations create real change. We processors and farmers need to collaborate so that co-ops, small stores and consumers can have an easy access to our high quality local foods at reasonable prices.

See the Winter 2008 newsletter for more information

Fall 2007 Newsletter
There is a problem with committees and associations. They are loose gatherings of “volunteers”, heavily involved with running personally owned businesses and lives that require a lot of energy and time. What we need is a “HomeTown Foods Collaborative” business. Participants, who share the same vision, would facilitate the creation of a regional food system utilizing an existing network of individuals, businesses and organizations! We cannot wait for a grant or the government or any one individual to solve all of our regional problems.

See the Fall 2007 newsletter for more information

Summer 2007 Newsletter
Food products from global farming and large scale processing fill grocery store shelves. Yet there is a growing dissatisfaction with the environmental costs of such products. One-hundred mile diets based on local farms and processors is the new interest of consumers worried about the quality of food and the distance traveled. The NYSSFP Association is in a unique position to help connect consumers to NY food processors’ products. However, much needs to be done.

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Spring 2007 Newsletter
Rule number one: when the health inspector shows up, DON’T PANIC.” That was the first statement my instructor at the Culinary Institute of America started with when discussing how to handle the health inspection of your food establishment. What he didn’t explain was why you shouldn’t be filled with fear. Cindy Gimberg, supervising water inspector of Columbia County, explained why...

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Winter 2007 Newsletter
Welcome to the New Year! Even though the calendar says January, it’s hard to believe that winter is really here. The temperatures outside have been unseasonably warm and my new fleece lined boots are still in the box. But now that the holidays are over, the pace definitely has slowed down. Finally there is time to browse through the new seed catalogs that have been piling up since fall and to catch up on some reading.

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Fall 2006 Newsletter
Unpaid publicity is a powerful and beautiful thing. What food producer wouldn’t want a TV newscaster, radio DJ, newspaper reporter or influential local personality to speak highly about a product he or she has made? Anyone selling a product welcomes positive public recognition, especially if they didn’t have to pay for it. But what many food entrepreneurs don’t realize is that they have the opportunity to influence this type of promotion.

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Summer 2006 Newsletter
A feasibility study is in process for a potential collaborative project between the NY Small-Scale Food Processors' Association. (NYSSFPA) and NY Farms!  NY Farms would focus on marketing while NYSSFPA on production and accessing products.  Krys Cail, Agriculture Development Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension, and NY Farms!

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Winter 2005-2006 Newsletter
As part of the NYS Farmers Direct Marketing Conference held February 2 to 5, 2006, SSFPA had a day-long series on Saturday, February 4 dedicated to Shared Use Kitchens and Incubator Kitchens. SSFPA members as well as other conference attendees had the opportunity to listen to speakers who have worked with these kitchens share their stories. Several SSFPA members were also speakers for other workshops during the conference.

See the Winter 2006 newsletter for more information

2005 news and information
On January 17, 18, and 19, SSFPA joined in our third collaboration with the NYS Farmers Direct Marketing Association and Federation of Farmers Markets of NY. The conference was held in Syracuse and was very successful in many ways.

We hosted four well-attended workshops on January 18, spurring a great deal of discussion! Featured were resource people on entrepreneurship, with solid information on insurance and legal issues; an update on food safety regulations with information as to where in our regions we can get further assistance: advice on framing advocacy issues; a marketing workshop providing models for building a branded identity for your region; and information on regional marketing and distribution. The Association has purchased cassette tapes of the workshops, which can be borrowed by emailing: alisonclarke@mailstation.com and paying the postage.

See the Spring Newsletter for more information

Our Spring Newsletter is in printable PDF format and includes a letter from the new SSFPA President Jeri Woodhouse, an article by Fred Forsburg on the Little Finger Lakes Region Food Festival, an article by Alison Clarke on the USDA SARE Conference and much more!