GrowNYC Expands: Advancement Opportunities and New Farmers from Across NYS

WDI Staff

2/19/2019

GrowNYC is a New York City-based non-profit best known for its 50+ Greenmarket Farmers Markets covering the entire city. GrowNYC brings fresh food to some of New York City’s poorest neighborhoods and accepts SNAP benefits. The organization also connects New York State farmers to the largest market in the state, New York City. 

The organization – both the Greenmarket Farmers Markets and companion training programs – is growing and WDI is working with the organization on two programs to support this growth. A range of training for GrowNYC interns and permanent staff will help develop their professional skills and ensure they are poised for advancement opportunities within the organization. Needed skills such as commercial driving, food protection, sales and Microsoft Excel are among the courses being offered.

WDI is also supporting GrowNYC’s FarmRoots program to deliver skills workshops in agricultural production and business management to beginning farmers. These trainings educate farmers to start their own environmentally and economically sustainable farm businesses at a time when the average age of farmers in the United States is close to 60 and most have no identified successor for their farm business. In order to keep fresh food grown locally in production, assistance for new farmers is crucial. This program will play an important role in development of skills for these new Farmers around New York State. Areas of focus will include identifying land, accessing start-up capital, and developing efficient production skills.


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