Area farms participate in annual Farm Day

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) hosted the 12th annual New York Farm Day celebration at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, Sept. 17. The event featured products from across the state and included several producers from the Finger Lakes region.
Culinary items from the region included: cheese from Muranda Cheese and Finger Lakes Farmstead, bread from Wide Awake Bakery, garlic from Muddy Fingers, Java-Gourmet/Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters, Seneca Salt Bark and Javalicious Party Mix.
The gathering also featured several Finger Lakes wines, including wines from Anthony Road, Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fox Run Vineyards, Glenora Wine Cellars, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, King Ferry Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Red Newt Cellars and Serenity Vineyards. Three Brothers Wineries & Estates and Wagner Vineyards were also included. Ice and dessert wines were provided by Hunt Country, Lakewood and Casa Larga. Seneca Drums Gin and McKenzie Rye represented some of the Finger Lakes region’s distilling companies.
“New York Farm Day is a tasteful and effective way to educate policy makers that New York is a major farm state, and that agricultural is a major part of the state economy,” said Jim Trezise, president of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. “The grape, grape juice, and wine industry now has production facilities in 53 of New York State’s 62 counties, and generates more than $3.7 billion in economic benefits annually. Our ability to grow and contribute even more depends on the business climate, which is shaped by public policy, so we thank Senator Gillibrand for hosting this immensely popular and effective event.”
The event brought together producers of New York’s award-winning wines, farm-fresh products and seafood, as well as leading restaurateurs from across New York State, which included several from the Finger Lakes area.
“I’m proud to continue the Farm Day tradition in Washington, D.C.,” Gillibrand said. “As a member of the agriculture committee, I am focused on improving the health of our economy and the health of our families. From rising childhood obesity and outdated nutritional standards to the economic crisis facing our dairy farmers and specialty crop farmers, agriculture issues in Washington affect families in every corner of New York. Strengthening our agricultural sector and promoting good nutrition for New Yorkers are essential to our long-term health and economic growth.”