CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango Bounty Farmers’ Market at Your Door has brought $47,331 worth of business to participating farms and producers during its first 44 weeks of operation, according to a press release from the program.
Approximately 69 percent of the amount has gone directly to Chenango County farms and producers with the remainder going to farmers and producers in Madison or other counties within New York State.
Grant monies from the Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee - Economic Development Funds ($12,440 for July 2007 to October 2008 and another $12,440 for October 2008 through October 2009) and The New York Farmland Viability Institute - Agriculture Innovation Center ($28,630 for January 2008 to June 2009) are being used to pay consultants and to administer and coordinate the program. The Chenango Bounty consultants work with the farms to identify and list products, develop the order form and web site, market the program, and collect orders. None of the grant funds are used to purchase a delivery truck, subsidize the food, or to pay the salaries of the management committee members, the press release states.
Participating farmers and producers provide guidance to the management committee members and help with oversight and promotion of Chenango Bounty. The producers set their own price and Chenango Bounty adds a nominal mark-up to cover the cost of collecting the food in a central location, packing the orders, and delivering the orders.
Products include far more than fresh produce. Customers can purchase locally raised meats, dairy products, granola, breads and more. The project has been beneficial to producers and customers alike.
“Chenango Bounty provides the essential services of marketing, handling and delivery of local food grown at your neighbor's farm or made at a local business, directly to you and your family,” said Adam Perrin of Quarry Brook Farms in Sherburne. “I receive retail prices for my products without the expense of advertising and delivery and without paying the dedicated people for their work in getting my product to the community. The participating farms and other producers have all benefited from the increased advertising and ease of distribution. The efforts of Chenango Bounty have resulted in at least a 20 percent increase in sales of the meat, eggs and produce grown at Quarry Brook Farms. I grow food for the health of the community and Chenango Bounty facilitates it reaching the table of local families. Since we are without farmer's markets in the winter, Chenango Bounty provides a wonderful service to those who 'eat local.’ Most counties do not have a program like Chenango Bounty and we are fortunate to have this fantastic program working hard for Quarry Brook Farms and all of the other farms and food producers.”
Of the 69 participating vendors, 24 are in Chenango County, 20 are in Madison County. The rest of the producers are New York State producers, most in adjacent counties. The project was expanded to include Madison County when they received funding through Madison County Agricultural Economic Development and the Central New York Community Foundation, Inc.
Chenango Bounty is a project of the Chenango County Agricultural Development Council and includes key partners Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County and Central New York Resource Conservation and Development Project, Inc. The goal is to increase revenues to local farms, improve resident’s access to local, fresh and healthy foods, and to keep money circulating within the county. Go to http://www.chenangobounty.com for more details.