Binghamton-area residents have never been closer to their local farmers than now, thanks to Grown in Broome, a platform created by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County in partnership with the county.
The online platform was created to directly connect consumers with local farms and other agritourism opportunities in the area. The platform features a plethora of information about local farms, including addresses, contact information, and professional photos of each partnered local farm.
The website also features a chart showing which produce is in season, ensuring Broome residents and visitors know what's fresh, and can shop locally. Within the next month, the website will also have a digital agritourism guide, which will condense information currently found in different areas of the site and become easily shareable.
What is Grown in Broome?
Molly McManus, communications coordinator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, said the platform offers unprecedented access to farms for consumers, and vice versa. McManus said CCE was already in contact with many farmers, through the offering of workshops and professional development programs.
By using information CCE had from farms signing up for workshops, or contacting CCE for help, McManus said CCE was able to reach out to a wide variety of farms and farmers to feature on their website. Some farms, McManus said, had no online presence prior to Grown in Broome, meaning they will now have access to a significantly larger pool of consumers.
"A lot of these farms are going to be very small, family-run operations," said McManus. "When operating on a small scale, your marketing can be the last thing you think about because of time constraints — that's where we can step in."
McManus said partnership with the county was an incredibly important part of the project. Funding through Broome County's Small Communities Fund allowed for the hiring of professional photographer Matt Ebbers, who was able to capture each farm's unique aspects and highlight the individuals behind them.
"We have all seen an apple or a Christmas tree, but we don't always get to see the person behind that," said McManus.
According to McManus, the platform is designed primarily for Broome County residents, but will have tourism applications too. Visitors in the county will be able to use the platform to plan trips during their time in the area, which could create even more business for local farms.
“The launch of the Grown in Broome website marks a significant step in our commitment to supporting our local agricultural community," Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in a statement. "With funding from the Small Community Fund, this initiative by Cornell Cooperative Extension provides an important resource in helping our community buy local products from our local farmers.”
Along with the digital guide, an interactive map will also be available on the site, giving viewers even greater access to knowledge about local farms. The website will also feature farming and agriculture events.
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