Assemblymember Jaffee, Rockland Farm Alliance Announce Passage of Suburban Agriculture Bill by Both Houses. Awaiting Governor's Signature

Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) Chair of the Assembly Taskforce on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy, and the Rockland Farm Alliance held a community education event on Tuesday at  Bluefield Farm, an organic flower farm in Blauvelt, to announce passage of the Suburban Agriculture bill she sponsored, (A8026 / S6360) An Act to Amend the Agriculture and Markets Law, in Relation to Agricultural Districts, which reduces the current required acreage to form an Agricultural District from 500 to 250 acres. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.

The legislation was inspired by Rockland farmers who have been trying for years to remove barriers to farming in suburban communities as well as a policy forum Assemblymember Jaffee held in July 2013 to discuss how to protect farmland in suburban areas like Rockland and meet the increasing demand for local food by consumers, restaurants and schools.

Reducing the minimum acreage in creating Agricultural Districts is critical to preserving and restoring farmland and reviving the farming tradition of Rockland, Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk counties as well as creating additional Agricultural Districts Upstate. A Suburban Agricultural District would also protect farms, as the bill states, from "overly restrictive local laws, government funded acquisition or construction projects, and private nuisance suits involving agricultural practices in the districts."

“I want to extend a special thanks to Joy Macy for so generously hosting us at Bluefield Farm,” Assemblymember Jaffee said. “On this beautiful summer day, could there be a better place to truly understand why preserving and protecting farmland in suburban communities sprouts new businesses, boosts the local economy, increases property values, preserves open space and the environment while improving the quality of life for all of us?” She continued,” If it weren’t for Joy’s efforts to preserve an historic, working farm, Bluefield Farm, like so many farms in Rockland County, a victim of development, sub-divided, turned into track homes or perhaps even a strip mall.”

The first grade class from Fleetwood Elementary School, East Ramapo Central School District, Principal Pat Simmons, and teachers were special guests. They toured the farm, learned about local food production, and enjoyed a picnic lunch prepared by the Rockland Roots Food Truck, which included organic flatbread pizza made from local grain, Hudson Valley cheese donated by the Hungry Hollow Food Co-op in Chestnut Ridge, as well as lemonade made from local herbs.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said, "It's no secret that Rockland County has lost thousands of acres of farmland to development in recent decades.  Changes to the Suburban Agriculture Bill detailed today will help preserve our remaining open space for future generations.  Local farms, such as The Orchards of Concklin in Ramapo and Dr. Davies in Clarkstown, provide jobs, volunteer opportunities and help to engage our young people in local agriculture and environmental education.  I applaud Rockland Farm Alliance President John McDowell and fellow RFA members for supporting the Suburban Ag bill and I thank Assemblywoman Jaffee for sponsoring such important legislation, designed to help smaller counties safeguard existing farmland acreage. Let's continue to collaborate on future efforts to preserve Rockland County's unique landscape."

Assemblymember Jaffee was also joined by John McDowell, Rockland Farm Alliance Founder and President; Linda Hill Conklin, Rockland Farm Board President and Co-Owner Orchards of Conklin; Joan  Gussow, Professor, Author, Food Policy Expert; Andy Stewart, Orangetown Supervisor; Sara Levine, District Representative,  Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland); Myrnia Bass-Hargrove, Rockland County Director of Community Relations; Pat Claiborne, Interim Executive Director Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland; Michele Kleinman, Public Health Nutritionist, Rockland County Health Department; Althea Mullarkey, Public Policy & Special Project Analyst, Scenic Hudson, Inc.; Rockland farmers, community leaders, advocates and stakeholders.