NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (March 1, 2013) – The Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance, a group dedicated to promoting the food and beverage industry throughout the region, has announced that Scenic Hudson, a non-profit dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Hudson River Valley, has joined its membership.
Scenic Hudson has become a founding member of the Alliance, which focuses on helping food and beverage companies in the area work together as strong partners. Launched by Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC), the organization includes food businesses, farmers, vegetable growers, beverage makers, distributors and other organizations in the industry.
“We are very excited to announce that Scenic Hudson has joined the Food & Beverage Alliance,” said Laurence P. Gottlieb, president and CEO of HVEDC. “Scenic Hudson has done phenomenal work preserving agricultural land in the Hudson Valley, helping to keep food production and consumption local and therefore improve the economy. We are confident they will have much to contribute to our organization.”
Scenic Hudson has preserved more than 65 working farms in five counties of the Hudson Valley, encompassing 10,000 acres of agricultural land. By working with farm families to conserve their agricultural lands, Scenic Hudson is helping ensure a supply of fresh, wholesome food to the region and a host of business activity tied to these products. Scenic Hudson has invested $19 million of its own funds and leveraged more than $11 million from public and private sources to protect farmlands and keep local agriculture a vibrant part of the valley. The organization is committed to family farms and ensuring robust agricultural and tourism economies as part of a prosperous Hudson Valley.
Scenic Hudson is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Hudson River and the landscapes beyond it as a national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. Scenic Hudson is responsible for creating and enhancing more than 50 parks, preserves and historic sites, and the organization has conserved more than 31,000 acres of land.
“Scenic Hudson has been an invaluable partner with Dutchess County, protecting and preserving the natural beauty and resources of our region,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro. “Their addition to the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance continues our collaboration with them and the Alliance to promote our local farmers and agricultural assets.”
Scenic Hudson’s ongoing Saving the Land That Matters Most Campaign is a multi-year, collaborative effort with fellow land trusts, governments, individuals and businesses to protect lands of the highest scenic, ecological and agricultural significance throughout the Hudson Valley.
“We are grateful for the leadership of Larry Gottlieb and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance in launching the Alliance to establish an identity and forum for collaboration for this vital and growing industry,” said Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson. “The area’s family farms are an enormous economic force – an $800 million industry annually and a business sector ripe for great expansion. By partnering with others in the Alliance, Scenic Hudson hopes to play a leading role in matching the region’s rising demand for fresh local food with an adequate and reliable supply.”
“We and the 16 land trusts partnering with us in our Saving the Land That Matters Most campaign are making significant strides in preserving working farmland, but the effort needs more resources,” said Steve Rosenberg, executive director of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, who oversees the strategy and implementation of Scenic Hudson’s farming efforts. “The Food & Beverage Alliance is all about creating synergies between partners, and we see this as a real opportunity to build resources for valley farms and related enterprises.”
Scenic Hudson uses land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally healthy communities, encourage smart economic growth, open riverfronts to the public and preserve the Hudson Valley’s abundant beauty and natural resources. Scenic Hudson received the Land Trust Alliance’s National Land Trust Excellence Award in 2011 in recognition of its work.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC): HVEDC represents seven counties in Hudson Valley. This public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC also helped start the branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley. For more information on Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation or to review available business sites, visit http://www.HVEDC.com or call CEO Laurence P. Gottlieb at 845-220-2244.
About Scenic Hudson: Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. A crusader for the valley since 1963, they are credited with saving fabled Storm King Mountain from a destructive industrial project and launching the modern grass-roots environmental movement. Today with more than 25,000 ardent supporters, they are the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River Valley. Their team of experts combines land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally healthy communities, champion smart economic growth, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley’s inspiring beauty and natural resources. Scenic Hudson has created or enhanced more than 50 parks, preserves and historic sites up and down the Hudson River and conserved more than 31,000 acres.
Scenic Hudson’s ongoing campaign to Save the Land That Matters is a multi-year, collaborative effort with fellow land trusts, governments, individuals and businesses to protect lands of the highest scenic, ecological and agricultural significance throughout the Hudson Valley. www.scenichudson.org
