Fuel for Minds and Bodies

Eating well will provide you with energy and nutrients to power your brain and body. Just like a car needs gasoline, you need energy to move, think and grow. The usable energy you get from food is measured in calories. The more calories a food has, the more energy it can supply. The amount of calories a person needs each day depends on his or her size and level of activity. The body stores extra calories as fat, which can be used later. It is important to have some body fat, but too much fat is unhealthy.

Most of the food you eat is grown on farms far away from your community. It is transported over long distances to reach your grocery store.

The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets' mission is to foster a competitive food and  agriculture industry that benefits producers and consumers alike. Agriculture makes up one-quarter of the State's land area and contributes immensely to the quality of life in New York State by generating economic activity and producing wholesome products to nourish our families. We work diligently to promote a viable agricultural industry, foster agricultural environmental stewardship, and safeguard our food supply.

Attention 6th Grade Classrooms: Did you get a packet from the Department of Agriculture and Markets? If not, download the materials below and learn how your team can earn an extra 50,000 steps!   Produce Trading Cards Produce Trading Card Curriculum   *Anybody can use the curriculum but only 6th grade classrooms are eligible for the extra steps.

Get Involved

Farm to School Program serves locally grown and processed foods in K-12 schools, daycare, colleges, and universities. It works to incorporate food, agriculture and cooking into school curriculum. It also supports children growing food at or nearby schools.

Community Gardens Program creates hundreds of community gardens across New York State to improve the quality of life of gardeners, beautify neighborhoods, provide nutritious fresh foods to residents, and deliver untold environmental benefits from reducing heat to decreasing storm-water run-off.

The Pride of New York Program was developed to promote and support the sale of agricultural products grown and food products processed within New York State. The Program’s growing membership now includes farmers and processors, retailers, distributors, restaurants and related culinary and support associations ­ all working together to bring you wholesome, quality New York State products.

Farm Fresh Guide  lists nearly 2000 farms offering food, products, and services directly to the public. By knowing what foods are fresh you can improve the the quality of meals, strengthen markets for farmers, and teach students about the source of agriculture and food.

NYS Agriculture in the Classroom  serves as a one stop shop for educators to find curriculum and lesson materials matched to NYS learning standards, funding opportunities and many other resources related to NYS agriculture.

An index of recipes that is searchable by meal type or ingredient.

Check out what is in season with the  Your guide to harvest times and availability chart. There is incredible diversity in New York State produce. New York consumers deserve close-to-home freshness in everything they buy. And very few places even come close to New York State for the variety and quality of its farm-fresh produce.

Keep an eye out for this logo in stores, online and on packaging as part of a health initiative that will inspire consumers to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Labels on Food Products
Beginning in 1994, the US government began requiring manufacturers to put information about nutritional value on food labels. You can use this information to make better choices about what you eat -- watch for the following information: