Farmers, Agriculture and the Hudson Valley

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Improving quality of life, health, and opportunity for the people who feed us and fuel our regional economy

On Juy 23rd, more than 45 philanthropic, government, business, healthcare, agricultural, and nonprofit leaders convened at Mount Saint Mary College to examine the needs of Hudson Valley farmworkers and the long-term viability of the farms they sustain. Participants included State Senator Michelle Hinchey, orchard owner Jeff Crist, farmworker advocate Katherine Brieger, and Sun River Health’s Jeanette Figueroa. 

The discussion highlighted persistent barriers involving affordable housing, childcare, transportation, language access, preventive healthcare, mental health, education, and trusted information, as well as workforce shortages and the growing effects of extreme weather on farms and workers. Participants emphasized that solutions must be culturally responsive, coordinated across sectors, and informed by farmworkers themselves. The roundtable also underscored agriculture’s broader regional importance, supporting local food systems, farm-to-table dining, craft beverages, tourism, food processing, and related businesses, and generated strong interest in continued collaboration, advocacy, and investment.