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: Products marketed under the New York State Grown & Certified seal are grown in New York State. Grower must be a Licensed Nursery or Greenhouse Grower in the State of New York.
- Environmental Stewardship: Every three years, producers 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). Renewals must be submitted to the Department.
Once every two years, nursery and greenhouse plants are inspected by NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and found free from injurious diseases and pests. Renewals must be submitted to the Department.
Not eligible: Growers may sell the following products but may not use the NYS G&C seal on the product itself.
- Pre-finished products from outside New York State (pre-finished products are products purchased from out of state growers and sold in the same container they were shipped in.)
- Regulated species designated “Invasive- Harmful to the Environment”:
Scientific Name Common Name
(i) Acer platanoides Norway Maple
(ii) Clematis terniflora Japanese Virgin’s Bower
(iii) Euonymus alatus Burning Bush
(iv) Euonymus fortunei* Winter Creeper
(v) Miscanthus sinensis* Chinese Silver Grass
(vi) Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust
Application