Chefs for the Marcellus

New York State is rolling out an update of its internationally famous I Love NY logo in a series of TV ads.  The new logos, created by crowd sourcing, will replace the iconic heart with depictions of New York attractions, including its food and wine. The state’s culinary pre-eminence, including its farms and farmers’ markets and wineries are touted in one video featuring TV chef Rachael Ray and another with QVC’s David Venable. We love those things about New York State, too.  But we wonder how those promoting farming, viniculture and tourism think they can survive if the state approves fracking for natural gas, which threatens the very areas that grow and produce all that beautiful food and wine.  If you  ”Heart” NY,  please sign on to our campaign today, and let Governor Cuomo know that you agree that a ban on fracking in our state is the best way to keep it green and growing.

Fox Run Vineyards, Penn Yan, NY

Winemaking is a huge and growing business in New York State — a business now threatened by hydrofracking for natural gas.  A few facts and figures:  In 2011,  the industry contributed $3.76 billion to the state’s economy from the production of wine and grapes grown on nearly 1,400 vineyards statewide.  Since 1976, the number of New York’s farm wineries has grown from under 20 to nearly 306 in 2011. Most vineyards are in the Finger Lakes region, which is being targeted by gas drillers.  Vintners and retailers are fighting back by joining Chefs for the Marcellus. We are pleased to welcome Fox Run Vineyards;  Ports of New York of Ithaca, and the fine NYC retailer Pasanella & Son Vintners to our campaign.

An Associated Press story about how fracking in farming communities is pitting neighbor against neighbor mentions Chefs for the Marcellus. READ IT HERE. 

Louisa Shafia

The contestants in our April 29 Pesto Competition not only wowed us with their delicious, inventive dishes,  they also signed on to the Chefs for the Marcellus campaign.  We welcome the following food professionals to our cause, and thank them for supporting Chefs for the Marcellus: Tamar Adler, An Everlasting Meal; Deepak Ballaney, Dine 365 Group; Maneet Chauhan, Cathy Erway, Not Eating Out NY; Atul Jain, The Ethnic Grocer; Surbhi Sahni, Bittersweet NYC; Louisa Shafia, Lucid Food.  Please join them by adding your name to our growing roster of food professionals who opposed fracking in our food shed.

Chefs founder Jimmy Carbone (Jimmy’s No. 43) and fellow chefs and restaurateurs will be talking about sustainable restaurants at the Brooklyn Food Conference on Saturday, May 12 at 12:30 p.m. The panel, moderated by Leonard Lopate, includes other Chefs supporters: Bill Telepan (Telepan), Francine Stephens (Franny’s), and Catherine Saillard (iCi).

Spectacular is the only word for last Sunday’s event, generously hosted by Nissa Pierson & Ger-Nis. Thank you Nissa and all the participating chefs.

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