WALTON, NY, June 20, 2013 - Catskills Family Creameries today announced Travel the Milky Way, an open house trail of their small farm dairies on Friday, July 5. Eight farms are opening their creameries and inviting the public in for a fun and educational day on the farm.

Meet the animals that produce the milk and learn how butter, yogurt, cheese, milk and gelato are made! Activities at the farms begin at 11 am, and

The Catskills Family Creameries include Betty Acres Farm/La Belle Fromage (Delhi, NY), Byebrook Farm (Bloomville, NY), Cowbella Fine Farmstead Dairy Products (Jefferson, NY), Dirty Girl Farm (Andes, NY), Harpersfield Cheese by Brovetto Dairy & Cheese House (Jefferson, NY), Lazy Crazy Acres and Crystal Valley Farm (Arkville, NY), and Sherman Hill Farmstead (Franklin, NY).

"The producers representing Catskills Family Creameries approached us late last year with a desire to collaborate and explore innovative ways to address challenges and raise the profile of their farm products," said Sonia Janiszewski, Farm to Market Manager and the group's facilitator. "Recognizing the growing demand for local and sustainable foods converging with agri-tourism, the July 5 open house trail event was born. We are excited to share these amazing farms and their delicious products will all who want to learn more about farmstead creameries!" 

The group's new website, www.catskillsfamilycreameries.com, offers information about each of the participating farms, the creamery trail, the impact of buying their local products, accommodations for those visiting from out of town, and coming soon, a map to guide you from one farm to the next. "Each Catskills Family Creamery is a working farm. Most farms have dirt driveways and, depending on the weather, may offer mud or dust," adds Janiszewski. "We suggest that you come to the farms in comfortable footwear and jeans or slacks. And leave your dogs at home for this event; we don't want to scare away the livestock!"

Catskills Family Creameries is a project that evolved from the value-added dairy producer group facilitated by the Farm to Market Program of the Watershed Agricultural Council, which also administers the Pure Catskills Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign.

For more information on Catskills Family Creameries, visit www.catskillsfamilycreameries.com, or contact Sonia Janiszewski at sjaniszewski@nycwatershed.org or (607) 865-7090.

About the Watershed Agricultural Council

Celebrating its 20^th year, the Watershed Agricultural Council continues to protect both the Catskills economy and drinking water quality for over nine million New Yorkers. Partnering with farmers, agri-businesses, woodland owners, forest industry professionals, non-profits and others, the Council furthers both regional business profitability and environmental stewardship. It also champions the use of conservation easements as an option to keep land within a working landscape context and currently protects over 23,000 acres of farmland. Through its partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders, the Council works within the watershed management industry through a Payment for Environmental Services approach and is internationally recognized for its efforts. 

The Council is funded in part by New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S.D.A and other sources. For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.