Food not fracking unites community and campus

(L-R): Kathy Nolan, Catskill Mountainkeeper regional director; Kaitlin Van Pelt, campus farmers’ market manager; Maurice Hinchey, recently retired congressman; Rosalyn Cherry, New Paltz Climate Action Coalition; Brian Obach, SUNY New Paltz Department of Sociology chair; Susan Zimet, Town of New Paltz Supervisor.

On Thursday, April 4 at the SUNY New Paltz farmers’ market, farmers and local food enthusiasts joined together with those fighting fracking in New York and former Congressman Maurice Hinchey to show that what binds us together is stronger than gas industry money and influence. Hundreds of students and the community sampled locally grown food, beverages and learned how to keep food safe from the harmful effects of fracking in New York.

“New York has a long history of agriculture, and in the Hudson Valley it’s our main economic engine,” said event organizer Morganne Montana. “To protect our food, water and air we are raising awareness about the effects of fracking and building strength to demand a ban on fracking.”

The event was sponsored by New Yorkers Against Fracking, Food & Water Watch, NYPIRG, Frack Free Catskills, Rochester Defense Against Fracking, New Paltz Climate Action Coalition, Frack Action, Catskill Mountainkeeper, NOFA and more.