Senator Nozzolio Announces “New York Loves Food” Conference to Discuss the Future of Food, Beverage and Agricultural Innovation in New York State

New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio announced today that he is continuing his commitment to the job-producing agriculture, food and beverage industries by hosting a major conference on the future of food processing and food safety in New York State.

The “New York Loves Food” conference will be hosted by Senator Nozzolio, along with Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the college’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, Senator Patty Ritchie, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Assemblyman William Magee, Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

Participating in the conference discussions will be representatives of the farm, food and beverage sectors to discuss the challenges and opportunities in this resurgent sector of New York’s economy.  Special focus will be devoted to the role that Cornell University’s Land-Grant Mission and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station play in the farm, food and beverage processing industry in New York and the United States.  Keynote speakers are Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.

The “New York Loves Food” conference will focus on the need for expanded agricultural and food research and development, appropriate economic policy, and creating a vision for the future of this critical job-creating sector of the economy.

“The tremendous work of Cornell University and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station has helped the Finger Lakes region become a global leader in the agriculture industry,” Senator Nozzolio said.  “Through the applied research, instruction and outreach of Cornell University and the Agricultural Experiment Station, countless food businesses have produced a significant number of jobs in New York, and we look forward to expanding these important businesses throughout our entire State.”

“Ensuring our agriculture industry is successful and that it can continue to grow is all about making connections between our hardworking farmers and consumers,” said Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Patty Ritchie. “The ‘farm to table’ movement is gaining in popularity, and this conference seeks to harness that momentum and use it in a way that can help to expand New York's leading industry, create jobs, and boost the bottom lines of farmers and agribusiness owners across the state by making locally grown foods more accessible to people across our state.”

Assemblyman Magee said, “As Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, and as a co-host of the “New York Loves Food” conference, I appreciate this opportunity to come together to work toward creating a pathway for the future success and growth of agriculture and food processing in New York State.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Governor Cuomo has made growing the agriculture economy a priority and under his leadership, we have been hugely successful in connecting the dots – helping our farmers reach new markets and promoting the best of New York State agricultural products to consumers.  We’ve found that more and more people want to know where their food comes from and today, as a result of that and our efforts, New York’s agricultural industry is in a better place than ever before.  By continuing to work together and by bringing the right people to the table for discussions like this one, we can make sure we build on our accomplishments to further grow our agri-businesses and create jobs.”

“The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is honored to host this conference in partnership with Senator Nozzolio, Senator Ritchie, and Assemblyman Magee,” said Kathryn J. Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “Across our research and extension programs, CALS faculty and staff seek to support our growers and food entrepreneurs from farm to fork. Continued growth in agriculture and food processing is paramount to the State’s economic vitality, and we look forward to an emerging vision from leaders in this key sector on the policies and investments needed to foster growth.”

“The New York State Agricultural Station was established at a time when agriculture employed over half of the labor force in New York State and we continue serving an evolving agricultural sector that remains an economic engine for New York State,” said Susan Brown, the Goichman Family Director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. “We are honored that Senator Nozzolio recognizes the important work done by the Station and shares our vision for its future.”

Senator Nozzolio recently announced that he was successful in securing $600,000 in State funding that enables the Agricultural Experiment Station to purchase and install a state-of-the-art Hiperbaric 55 High Pressure Processing machine. High Pressure Processing destroys pathogens and lengthens shelf life of fresh products without the disadvantages of traditional pasteurization. It is a novel processing method that can be used to comply with existing, as well as, new regulatory requirements without significantly altering the nutrition or sensory quality of the foods. The Station’s Hiperbaric will be the first validation unit in the United States, assisting food processors in creating FDA compliant products and allowing the Station to conduct transformational research, instruction and outreach.   

The Station is essential in assisting both start-up and long-established food companies and the addition of the Hiperbaric unit will allow its researchers to continue revolutionizing the food processing industry, expanding new markets for locally grown agricultural products, and creating new jobs in the Finger Lakes region and throughout New York State. 

In an effort to continue the momentum, the “New York Loves Food” conference will bring together business and agriculture leaders, farmers, food processors and individuals from the food processing industry with their state and local legislators as well as, local, regional and state economic development officials to discuss the future of the farm and food industry.

Among the many New York-based food industry businesses scheduled to attend are; Seneca Foods, Constellation Brands, Cheribundi, O-At-Ka Milk Products, Welch’s, Red Jacket Orchards, Eden Valley Growers, and Wegmans.  Representatives of the food processing industry will take part in panel discussions on the future needs of their expanding industry. 

The “New York Loves Food” conference will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 from 9:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. in Jordan Hall at the Cornell Experiment Station in Geneva. If you would like to register for the Conference, please click HERE. For further information, please contact Senator Nozzolio’s office at 315-568-9816 or 518-455-2366.

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