Overview
The New York State Grown & Certified program makes it easy for consumers to identify local, safely handled, and environmentally responsible agricultural products. This voluntary program is a cooperative effort among producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to meet consumer demand for high-quality food and agricultural products. Upon acceptance to the New York State Grown & Certified program, participants will be able to display a new high-impact label that will clearly stand out, telling the consumer their food handling practices are audited and they operate their farms in an environmentally responsible manner.
Program Requirements & Application
Program Requirements
- Applicability: All eggs are from New York State hens.
- Food Safety: For farms with more than 3,000 hens: participation in FDA's Salmonella Surveillance Program and the annual vaccination of all birds for salmonella enteritis is required. For farms with less than 3,000 hens: annual participation in a Salmonella pullorum-typhoid testing program (through the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets or veterinarian) and compliance with the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean Status is required. Renewals must be submitted to the Department. (Information on NPIP, as well as an application, can be found at https://agriculture.ny.gov/animals/poultry)
- Environmental: Every three years, farms are required to participate/renew in the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program, administered by their county Soil and Water Conservation district, with the completion of Tier 2 of the program (or higher). An alternative option is to have an active CAFO permit. Renewals must be submitted to the Department.
- Formulation Statements: Any producer/farmer selling eggs marketed as NYS Grown & Certified must provide an annual formulation statement or signed attestation. For processing facilities, certification is product specific, not facility wide.
Application