Hudson Valley Agricultural Partnership Launches AgriSource

New Interactive Directory and Calendar of Events to Serve The Region's Extensive Agricultural Community

(Poughkeepsie) - In its continuing effort to bring together individuals, businesses, and other organizations with a stake in the health and welfare of agriculture in the Hudson Valley, the Hudson Valley Agricultural Partnership (HVAP) today announced the launch of its free interactive membership directory and calendar of events.

Found at www.hvap.net, AgriSource is a key reference and support tool for the agricultural community. Providing current contacts, address, and a description of each entity, the goal of the directory is to increase and strengthen connections among agriculture's diverse stakeholders.

"The Hudson Valley produces a tremendous variety of fresh, local foods and other agricultural products," asserts HVAP Coordinator, Michael Turton. "The region benefits greatly from agriculture's contribution to the economy, as well as to open space and the environment. We felt it was imperative to build an agricultural network that would enable us to exchange up-to-date information and communicate with each other about the vital issues facing this important industry."

The AgriSource Directory was designed by small packages, inc, a New Paltz-based Web development company. It allows users to easily register themselves for directory membership at two different levels of support, as well as use a search mechanism to quickly locate any member by organization or keywords. The basic directory listing is free. Members use a password to access their listing in order to add or update information.

The new calendar of events covers any pertinent trade or consumer agricultural event and will be updated regularly.

Anyone interested in signing up for the HVAP directory can get to it by going to www.hvap.net and clicking on 'Register'.

About the Hudson Valley Agricultural Partnership
HVAP is a diverse network of farmers, consumers, organizations, businesses and leaders working to strengthen agriculture and protect farmland in New York's Hudson Valley. HVAP's constituents include farmers, farming advocates, conservation organizations, local government leaders, consumers and agricultural or food-related businesses working together to ensure a vibrant future for agriculture in the region. HVAP was founded in 2000 by a consortium of stakeholders led by Scenic Hudson, American Farmland Trust, and the Open Space Institute, not-for profit organizations that work to safeguard the future of agriculture in the Hudson Valley.