WALTON, NY -- The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC), with funding from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, has awarded $50,000 to 15 farm and food Pure Catskills member businesses through the Sustainable Agriculture Development Program.  Part of the Pure Catskills Buy Local Campaign, this program works to support the economic viability of regional agriculture.  The 15 grant awards, ranging between $945 and $5,000, were awarded for product development, marketing and educational activities. The highly competitive grant offering received 60 project proposals requesting $307,000 in funding. By category, this year's funding allocated $34,885 to product development, $3,170 to marketing and $11,945 outreach and education. Recipients of the 2010 program include:

Delaware County:
·         Byebrook Farm, Bloomville - Marketing: farmstand improvements $1,200
·         Fable Restaurant at Stone & Thistle Farm, East Meredith - Product Development: seasonal, local, organic meat specialty products $2,740
·         Farm Catskills, Delhi - Outreach and Education: "Food for Thought" farm-to-school events $5,000
·         Good Cheap Food, Delhi - Product Development: local soup $5,000
·         Lucky Dog Farm, Hamden - Product Development: salad green improvement  $5,000
·         Riverdale Farm and Forest, Delhi - Product Development: maple syrup  $1,200
·         Sherman Hill Farmstead, Franklin - Product Development: aged goat cheese  $3,692
·         Thornwood Farm, Sidney Center - Product Development: poultry processing  $5,000
·         Taste of the Catskills, Delhi - Outreach and Education: 2-day local food event  $5,000

Otsego County:
·         Greater Plains PTO Garden, Oneonta - Outreach and Education: Local Food Festival  $945
·         Painted Goat Farm, Garrattsville - Product Development: semi-hard goat cheese  $3,767

Schoharie County:
·         Elderberry Herb Farm, Sharon Springs - Product Development: elderberries  $5,000

Sullivan County:
·         Bethel Farmer's Market at Kauneonga Lake, Kauneonga Lake - Marketing: farmer's market and local restaurant promotional campaign  $1,970
·         Farmstock, Callicoon Center - Outreach and Education: eight farm tours  $1,000

Ulster County
·         Neversink Farm, Claryville - Product Development: livestock processing  $3,486

Pure Catskills is an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council.  The purpose of WAC 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, agribusinesses, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship. It works through partnerships with other nonprofits 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 WAC is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 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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