SOFSA was recently mentioned in an article published by Spectrum New 1 on March 13th, 2023 in their ongoing coverage of the Downtown Farmers Market expansion plans . The article highlights the $41,400 awarded to the Market from New York Ag and Markets to boost marketing capacity. Downtown Committee economic development specialist Conor Rockhill noted that the goal is to both support the market and the vendors who sell there.
The article highlights how the Downtown Farmers Market is working with SOFSA to ensure diversity in the produce being sold there and diversity in attendance. The program hopes to support farmers’ capacities to engage with customers by improving online sales and marketing strategies.
“One of the biggest lessons that we learned from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of having a strong, flexible and streamlined local food supply chain, and one of the greatest tools we have for getting farm-fresh food directly into our communities are farmers’ markets.”
– Richard Ball, New York State Agricultural Commissioner
