Melkorka and her Sister Ulla at the NY Port of Entry
It’s been a fun week filled with interviews with New York Agri-Women. Next up, is Melkorka Kjarval, who currently lives in Chelsea, a neighborhood in Manhattan, whose family is involved in production agriculture Upstate.
Melkorka responded to my questions as follows:
1. What is your connection with New York agriculture?
My parents are farmers in Meredith, NY. I am a web/graphic designer who often works with a lot of rural towns/farms as well as helping my parents out with their web marketing.
2. What did you most enjoy about the reception and agri-tours around the greater NYC area?
I loved that it highlighted the enthusiastic response NYC has to farming– Blue Hill and the rooftop farms are such great examples of the enthusiasm our city has to our farmers. I loved seeing the port – it was a peek behind a curtain that I never thought I would see (and we were all treated like royalty)! Also, meeting all the ladies was a real treat!
3. What would you like to see New York Agri-Women accomplish over the next few years?
Any organized voice that makes connections in Albany and with the influential food movement/market in NYC would be a great way to help our upstate farmers.
4. What are some of your biggest agriculture policy concerns at the federal, state, and/or local level?
Working to curb policies that help corporations and hurt independent farmers, food safety, the lack of processing plants for farmers, etc. I grew up in Warwick, NY on a sheep farm (Cherry Ridge Farm). My parents moved their farm to Meredith, NY in 1998 and have since converted into a grassfed beef operation (Spring Lake Farm). We moved for many reasons but mainly because the area we lived in had changed into a farming community to one with a suburban population and suburban interests (not ag-friendly). Even though my parents live in a farm friendly area now, I still really feel for farmers and farm kids who are used to feeling the stigma from their for living on a farm or rural area. As a farmer’s daughter and a designer who works on a lot of farm websites, it is really important for me to highlight and showcase rural life and independent farming (even the farms that are not tourist ready farms) in a positive light. I think the web and new technology in general shows great progress in leveling the playing field and allowing our upstate farmers (my parents included) to reach consumers and a greater audience they haven’t had the opportunity to reach in other mediums. It is really exciting moment for Upstate NY farming and I think New York Agri-Women will open up many possibilities for our farmers!
Melkorka was kind enough to donate her time and sketch a great logo for New York Agri-Women! You can check it out here.