New York State is experiencing a growth in demand for locally grown farm products. With a decline in the number of traditional farms, a focus on developing and supporting new farmers and agricultural practices is central to meeting such demand, as well as enabling agricultural economic development in the region. The Catskills, with their expansive farmlands and rich agricultural resources, are well suited to continue a long history of raising and growing livestock, produce and various other farm products.

Beginning farmers will require a diverse set of experiences to succeed. Exposure to peers and mentor farmers is one way in which aspiring farmers will acquire the skills and knowledge to prosper.    

With this in mind, the Catskills Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) has been formed. CRAFT provides the opportunities for beginning farmers to connect and learn from existing farmers who offer up their time, talents and experience to help prepare the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. CRAFT provides farmer-to-farmer learning and access to the social network and culture of local farmers.

Catskills CRAFT seeks to:
 - Deliver a broader experience to beginning farmers than they can receive alone
 - Provide a peer base to help beginning farmers connect with others who share similar goals
 - Increase the skill base in sustainable agriculture

The first CRAFT program was founded in upstate New York in 1994. In 1997, ten farmers from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin founded a second CRAFT program in the Upper Midwest. Since then, many more local farmer-led CRAFT alliances have sprouted up across the US and Canada.


Photo courtesy of Goldilocks Finds Manhattan.