Elected Officials Tour Indoor Farming in Poughkeepsie

POUGHKEEPSIE – State Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R, East Shore) was in Dutchess County on Tuesday getting a firsthand look at agriculture in the county.

She spent time on a fact-finding mission at Fishkill Farms in Hopewell Junction and Indoor Organic Gardens in Poughkeepsie.

“I don’t have any farms in my district; I represent Staten Island and Brooklyn, but yet I am still voting on legislation that affects the agricultural industry – farmers – and I think it is important for those legislators that are not from areas that have farms to go and learn about what they are doing and we can do as a state to encourage them because we vote on legislation that affects everybody,” Malliotakis said.

Area Assemblyman Frank Skartados joined with County Executive Marcus Molinaro in Poughkeepsie to tour the organic gardening facility.

A non-descript building on Main Street that used to house an insurance agency now houses the Organic Gardens of Poughkeepsie.  This startup business, owned by Brud Hodgkins, has attracted the interest of Malliotakis as she attempts to learn more about farming and organic growing taking place throughout the state.

Using organic sterilized compost and very little water, Hodgkins is currently growing approximately 120 pounds of microgreens per week.  The distribution of his product is blossoming and is now serving customers as far away as Miami and Key West, Florida through the assistance of an overnight carrier.

Malliotakis, who serves on the Assembly's Ways and Means Committee, has been researching incentives that could possibly aid businesses such as indoor organic gardens and has visited several farms and grow facilities, including a medical marijuana facility in New Jersey.  The assemblywoman credits Molinaro with bringing her to Dutchess to show off a variety of organic farms and facilities.