Letter to the Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture - Additional federal funding for Center for Craft Food and Beverage would help solidify craft beverage industry in Central New York

Letter

I write in support of the application submitted by Hartwick College for funding from the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program through the United States Department of Agriculture. This funding will help Hartwick College purchase additional analytical equipment to test and research the growth and improvement of New York State farming, malting, and brewing industries.

Hartwick College is located in Otsego County, which is a rural area in upstate New York that is economically disadvantaged. In 2013, the Center for Craft Food and Beverage at Hartwick College opened to help facilitate the growth of the craft food and beverage products in upstate New York. The Center has a specific focus on locally-grown and sourced material and as the demand for local raw materials among craft brewers grows, testing labs like those at the Center for Craft Food and Beverage will become a necessity to assist farmers in getting their products to New York's craft beverage producers.

The requested funding will be used to support Hartwick College's Center for Craft Food and Beverage's purchase of more analytical equipment, including a laboratory scale micro-malting system. The Center needs new analytical equipment to continue to test and research the growth and improvement of New York State's farming, malting, and craft brewing industries. This will also help ensure that local producers have access to affordable and accurate information about the value of their crops. By purchasing more analytical equipment, the Center for Craft Food and Beverage will lower costs related to the production of craft food and beverage, add value to craft food and beverage products, and promote New York State products.

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