Albany -- New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker Wednesday announced a new initiative within the department that will focus on organic farming. In response to the increasing demand for organic products and the marketing opportunity for New York farmers, the Department has added a full-time organic agriculture specialist position, and has added a new section to the department’s website, Organic Farming Resource Center.

Starting in March 2007, Sarah Johnston joined the department as an Organic Agriculture Specialist. Johnston is the former Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York and has an extensive background in environmental issues. Her responsibilities at the Department are to develop and execute new initiatives to expand and support organic agriculture in New York State. Currently, Johnston has been working with producers to create a priority list of organic research needs and has successfully created the Organic Farming Resource Center, new to the Department’s website, www.agmkt.state.ny.us.

New York State ranks among the top ten states in the country in the number of organic farms. In 2006, there were nearly 600 certified organic farms in New York State with nearly 70,000 acres in production. Organic dairy farms are the largest segment of the organic farm community in New York State. In addition, there were more than 100 organic food processors in the State.