About NOFA-NY, Inc.
Founded in 1983, NOFA-NY is a statewide organization leading a growing movement of farmers, consumers, gardeners, and businesses committed to promoting sustainable, local, organic food and farming.
We provide education, assistance, and support to regionally-based, sustainable farmers to help them thrive; educate consumers about the value in buying local, organic products; help consumers connect with regionally-based farmers; work to make local, organic food available to all people; and advocate policies that support a sustainable food and farm system.
Our organization promotes the stewardship of the land and the lives that inhabit it. Stewardship encompasses the long term viability of our natural resource base; the health of consumers; the working conditions of farmers, their families and workers; the needs of communities; and the welfare of farm animals.
Beginning Farmer Programs and Education with NOFA-NY NOFA-NY works to support individuals and groups exploring farming as a career option, working and learning on farms, just starting out their own farming enterprise as well as farmers interested in passing along their skills and transfering their farm to the next generation. We approach this important work through a range of programs which could help the farmer at each stage in their career path, and also through one-on-one counseling. We encourage and celebrate ingenuity in the farming community, particularly through planning field days on farms throughout the year and through our annual organic farming conference.
NOFA-NY Participation in the OGRIN Project "Value-added grains for local and regional food systems." NOFA-NY is investigating a variety of approaches to grain dehulling and milling that will work for small and larger-scale growers/entrepreneurs, including mobile wheat and grain processing machinery. For more on this project, visit http://ogrin.org/grains_OREI.html.
NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC A subsidiary of NOFA-NY, Inc., NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC has been accredited by the USDA since 2002 to provide organic certification for farmers and processors in the United States. NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC is operated in a nonprofit manner and is funded entirely by certification fees. The day-to-day activities of the program are coordinated by paid certification office personnel. NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC certifies a majority of New York State organic farms and processors and has certified entities in CT, PA, Ohio, MA and California. It is one of the oldest certifying bodies in the United States.
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