I just learned about this and couldn’t wait to share it with all of you that love the Hudson Valley as I do! Perhaps you are already aware of Hudson Valley Fresh which is a not-for-profit dairy cooperative dedicated to preserving the agricultural heritage of the Hudson River Valley and promoting it as one of the premier food regions of the United States.
Michael J. Fox (a resident of the HV also) supports this very important effort.
Currently their main business is producing premium quality dairy products – whole, skim, low-fat and chocolate milk along with half and half, heavy cream, and sour cream. They believe in supporting sustainable agriculture and are currently preserving 5,000 acres of open land. Their mission to secure living wages for our farmers and their families.
By ensuring a fair price for their farmers’ goods, HVF is keeping those farmers in business, which means preventing the loss of their land to development. Consider this – in the 1970s, there were 275 dairies in Dutchess County, the highest number of dairy farms in New York State — and now there only 26. They formed a dairy cooperative in 2004 to provide a sustainable future in agriculture for participating cooperative members by stabilizing market prices.
The HVF milk is sold in the Mid-Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York City and Connecticut.
All HVF dairy farmers live within 20 miles of the processing plant at Boice Brothers Dairy in Kingston, N.Y. (conventional milk usually travels hundreds of miles before it reaches the processing plant.)
By keeping farming economically feasible, the farmers in turn spend their income on local goods and services. Studies show that farmers put most of their income back into the local economy, i.e., by buying feed, farm machinery, veterinary services, hiring plumbers, electricians, and using all the services in their community.
The economic multiplier factor ranges from 1 1/2 to 4 times. This means the $32 million estimated farm product sales per year from Dutchess County farms puts any where from $50 to $120 million back into the local economy.
Hudson Valley Fresh Milk Locations
Consider trying the HVF Milk For Yourself at the Following Milk Tastings:
| Event Name | Date | Time | Location |
| Nature’s Pantry | 4/24/2010 | 10-2PM | 142 Route 17k Newburgh, NY 12550 |
| Whole Foods | 4/24/2010 | 11-3pm | 2101 Northern Boulevard Manhasset, NY 11030-3528 |
| Whole Foods | 5/1/2010 | 11-3pm | 270 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 USA |
For more information about this amazing organization and their efforts please visit the Hudson Valley Fresh website (http://www.hudsonvalleyfresh.com)
Courtesy: hudsonvalleyfresh.com
