Efforts to aid farmers, farmworkers go on

Dear People editor: Mohonk Consultations enthusiastically thanks our community for making our Nov. 5, 2018, conference, “Pastures of Plenty? Food, Justice & Labor in the Hudson Valley,” a sold-out event and a catalyst to further action.

Attendees heard directly from farmworkers and representatives from Hudson Valley Farm Hub, MidHudson Migrant Education Program, Ralph E. Ogden Foundation, Rondout Valley Growers Association, Rural & Migrant Ministry, and Worker Justice Center of New York. Students attended from Rondout Valley High School, Columbia University, Bard College, and UC Santa Cruz. Margaret Gray of Adelphi University, author of “Labor and the Locavore: The Making of a Comprehensive Food Ethic,” gave the keynote address. Caracol Language Co-op provided simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish. Ulster Savings Bank, Scenic Hudson and individuals underwrote farmworker and student attendance.

Two upcoming events will further address local farming and labor: Rural and Migrant Ministry will host A Town Hall on Justice for NYS Farmworkers at SUNY New Paltz on Thursday, Feb. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. (www.ruralmigrantministry.org).

Our Spring Forum, “Supporting Farmers and Farmworkers”, set for April 7, 2019, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Mohonk Mountain House, will identify concrete actions to benefit farmers and farmworkers. (www.mohonk-consultations.org). Thank you.

NANCY GRAHAM

New Paltz The writer is administratrive coordinator for Mohonk Consultations.