Farmer & Producer Work GroupGoals & ObjectivesThe Farmer and Producer Work Group seeks to increase the viability of WNY farmers, with particular emphasis on smaller, newer and limited resource farmers. To do this, the WG is working to understand and address both obstacles and challenges farmers face related to markets, access to processing and other infrastructure, availability of affordable finance and capital, and the need for peer support and networks. Within these broad objectives, the WG has focused on four priority areas, described below.
Current Priorities & InitiativesThe Farmer & Producer WG has identified four priorities. For each of these priorities, a small group of two to six people has volunteered to further research to increase the understanding of the issue and develop concrete action steps.
In addition, the Work Group is helping to promote the farmer survey among farmers in WNY |
Work Group MembersMATTHEW AGLE Produce Farmer ABBY BENNETT Coordinator, Project Work Groups MEGAN BURLEY Burley Berries & Blooms KATIE CARPENTER Dairy Farmer RACHEL CHROSTOWSKI WNY Land Conservancy ALLISION DEHONNEY Urban Fruits & Veggies KRISTIN HELTMAN-WEISS Providence Farm Collective JOE KURTZ Work Group Convenor Buffalo Urban Growers MAHAMUD MBERWA Providence Farm Collective/Somali Bantu Community Organization WILL MOSS Produce Farmer CHRIS NOBLE Noblehurst Farms MIKE PARKOT Always Something Farm JOAN PETZEN Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wyoming County KATIE PFOHL Massachusetts Avenue Project GREG PUTNEY Rise "N" Swine Farms JAKE STEVENS Fire Creek Farms MARLENE WAKEFIELD Seneca Nation of Indians ALEXANDER WRIGHT African Heritage Food Coop / Blegacy Farm |