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Farm that supplies beef to Massena, Hammond schools now in NYS Grown & Certified Program

Posted 5/15/18

MASSENA -- A Rodman farm that supplies beef to Massena and Hammond central school districts has recently jointed the NYS Grown & Certified program, according to state Agriculture Commissioner …

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Farm that supplies beef to Massena, Hammond schools now in NYS Grown & Certified Program

Posted

MASSENA -- A Rodman farm that supplies beef to Massena and Hammond central school districts has recently jointed the NYS Grown & Certified program, according to state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball.

Lucki 7 Livestock is one of six beef producers who have joined the program so far, said a press release.

Ball announced on May 15 that, in celebration of Beef Month, the Grown & Certified program has been expanded to include beef producers.

May is Beef Month in New York State and in addition to taking part in promotional campaigns this month, the Department will now market producers participating in the Grown & Certified program on a year-round basis.

Commissioner Ball said, “The NYS Grown & Certified program continues to grow, in the number of producers participating and in its reach to consumers who are recognizing what the seal means in terms of the great care our farmers and producers are taking when it comes to food safety and environmental stewardship. We are proud to announce the addition of New York beef to the program, and are excited to help tell the story of our State’s many excellent beef producers who are raising quality food for our schools, communities and families.”

NYS Grown & Certified promotes New York’s agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards. For beef, participants must be local producers and their herd must have spent at least 2/3 of their lifetime in New York State. To meet the program’s food safety standards, the producer must participate in a herd management program, such as the NY Beef Quality Assurance program at a Tier 2 level, and animals must be processed in a USDA-inspected plant.

In addition, the producer must participate in the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program, administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, with the completion of Tier 2 of the program (or higher). Alternatively, the producer must have a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Other North Country beef farms participating include Adirondack Beef Company in Croghan in Lewis County and Cross Island Farms on Wellesley Island in Jefferson County.

In addition to supplying the two St. Lawrence County schools, Lucki 7 also serves several colleges around the state, including Colgate and Hamilton.

“The NYS Grown & Certified program gives us a label of creditability. To be certified, you must participate in animal humane treatment and handling, safe food handling and be environmentally responsible. These are all important categories to Lucki 7 Livestock Co. Lisa and I look forward to seeing the label on our products and marketing our beef to the great New York State customers," said Stephen Winkler, owner of Lucki 7.

Producers interested in learning more about how to become NYS Grown & Certified can contact the Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-7076, ext. 3 or email NYSGrownAndCertified@agriculture.ny.gov.