WALTON, NY - WALTON, NY - Farms, farmers markets, restaurants, retailers and community organizations that are connected to buying local farm and food products in Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster Counties are invited to join the Pure Catskills Buy Local Campaign before May 26th.  Now actively enrolling business members for the sixth year of publication, this economic initiative is well known for its annual Pure Catskills Guide to Farm Fresh Products.

Benefits to membership include:
� a listing of farm contact information and product descriptions in the Pure Catskills Guide,
� an online listing at purecatskills.com,
� discounts on Pure Catskills events throughout the year,
� eligibility for product development and event grants,
� access to the Pure Catskills logo for use in marketing materials and point-of-purchase branded materials.

Membership fees are just $35!

The 2009 Guide included 200 regional businesses. In July, 30,000 copies of the Pure Catskills Guide will be distributed to hundreds of locations across the region. Members are encouraged to enroll online at purecatskills.com or to contact Challey Comer at (607) 865-7090 or [email protected] for materials. Members are encouraged to support the publication by taking an advertisement through our project partner, Luminary Publishing. Eva Tenuto of Luminary may be contacted at [email protected] or (914) 299-2363 for details.

Pure Catskills is an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC). The Council's purpose is to protect both the rural, land-based economy of the watershed region and the drinking water quality of over nine million people. Working with farmers, agri-business, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship. It works through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders to achieve its purpose.

The WAC mission is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City watershed region. The Council is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal and foundation sources. The WAC is an equal opportunity employer and provider. For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.
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