Bison Island Now NYS Grown & Certified

Bison Island Ranch Bison Herd enjoying the snowfall from this last storm. They eat hay cut from the Ranch all winter long!

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON SPRINGS — Bison Island Ranch of Sharon Springs, NY was proud to announce that they received their New York State Grown & Certified recognition this past week. The rigorous certification is a huge accomplishment for this small but growing female-run business. Bison Island Ranch is the FIRST and ONLY Bison Farm in New York State to receive this!

To be New York State Grown & Certified means that the farm has been inspected by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets not only on their land and use but also on their animals and practices. It is a recognition of commitment to food safety and animal/environmental stewardship. You can tell these products by a specially marked sticker on the packaging.

Launched in 2016, the New York State Grown & Certified program “assures consumers that the food they are buying is local and produced to a higher standard by requiring participating producers to adopt food safety standards and enroll in an environmental management program”. According to NYS, since the program started, it has grown and evolved to cover 20 agricultural commodities and processing industries. This voluntary program is a cooperative effort among producers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to meet consumer demand for high-quality food and agricultural products. For more information please visit certified.ny.gov.

The Bison Island Ranch bison herd is 100% grass-fed and pasture rotated regularly, allowing the animals to live in the most natural and undisturbed way possible. These huge herbivores, also commonly called buffalo, can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand over 6 feet tall! Did you know they are the National Mammal?

Have you ever tried this heart-healthy local bison meat? Bison Island Ranch is hosting their first event of the season this Saturday, January 13th from 12 - 3:00 PM. Their freezers are stocked with a variety of bison steaks and new cuts from their most recent harvest. They will also have jerky, bison art, and bison jewelry available as well. Visit www.bisonislandranch.com or @bisonislandranch on social media for more information and upcoming events! Bison Island Ranch is located at 194 Engleville Rd, Sharon Springs, NY 13459.