New Farmer Development Project

The New Farmer Development Project (NFDP) identifies, educates, and supports immigrants with agricultural experience to establish their own economically and environmentally sustainable small farm businesses in the NYC region.

By training the next generation of regional farmers, the NFDP helps keep farmland in production and strengthens rural communities, farmers markets and the region’s food system as a whole. NFDP farmers grow a range of unique products originating from around the world, and expand public access to high-quality, locally-grown farm products.

The NFDP was created in 2000 as a partnership between Greenmarket and Cornell Cooperative Extension's NYC Program. The project is based in New York City and supports new farmers witin the city, New York's Hudson Valley & Catskill Regions, New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Project Facts and Milestones:

  • More than 165 aspiring immigrant farmers have completed the NFDP farm business planning course, La Nueva Siembra.
  • 22 immigrant farmers and their families have started their own independent farm businesses with the support of the NFDP.
  • NFDP farmers sell a variety of vegetables, specialty herbs, pastured poultry, eggs, cut and potted flowers, honey, small fruits and plants at nearly 60 farmers markets throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley.
  • NFDP farmers keep a total of 325 acres of farmland in production.
  • 6 NFDP farmers have purchased farmland, and collectively own 72 acres.
  • 5 NFDP farmers have long-term leases with landowners.
  • 9 NFDP farmers sell through 18 CSAs city-wide, providing approximately 1,100 individual shares.
  • NFDP farmers are extremely effective at reaching low-income customers, selling at 23 farmers markets and 10 CSAs in low-income neighborhoods.
  • In 2010, NFDP farmers had over $60,000 in EBT (Food stamp) sales and approximately $385,000 in WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program sales.


The New Farmer Development Project in Photos

Click slideshow for larger views


 

After Hurricane Irene: NFDP Farmers Confront Damage and Losses

Hurricane damage ranged from slight to catastrophic for NFDP farmers, some of whom were wiped out completely by flooding. The following is a slideshow of some of the damage (click on images for larger versions). Please visit Greenmarket's Hurricane Irene Relief page to find out how you can help NFDP and other Greenmarket farmers get back on their feet.

To all those of you who have contributed thus far, we thank you personally and on behalf of all the NFDP farmers. In the words of Claudio Gonzalez, an NFDP farmer who lost nearly 90% of his planted crops, "it's amazing to realize the community that supports you, that you normally don't see since you're in the field working alone most of the time, and you don't understand how many people have your back until something like this happens."

He said it was hard to accept any help at first since he's not used to having assistance, but with so many outstanding bills and next to no farm income, with only a few weeks of the season to go, he is graciously accepting all the help he can get. "Normally around this time of year I get a little rest; I don't have to go to the farm as often and I can relax some, but this year I have to start my factory job now because I have all these bills to pay and repairs to make," explained Claudio.

Donations are still being accepted via Greenmarket's Hurricane Irene Relief. All funds go directly to farmers like Claudio who have suffered great losses this season due to Hurricane Irene and subsequent Tropical Storm Lee.

Thank you for your support!