ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo is urging local farmers to get aboard the “New York Grown and Certified” bandwagon with a pledge to help them label and promote their product.

The governor announced Tuesday that nearly half a million in funding is available for producers and retailers to assist with on-product labeling and in-store promotion. The aim is to help consumers identify locally grown products.

The initiative is running in conjunction with a digital marketing campaign touting New York’s ag industry.

By participating in the NYS Grown and Certified program, farmers show they adhere to high food safety and environmental standards. Supporters of the program say it makes consumers more likely to purchase a product.