New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker recently joined Willie Nelson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the Union Square Greenmarket to announce Farm Aid, an annual benefit concert that advocates for family farms, will be coming to New York City for the first time this summer.

“We’re so happy that y’all have invited us, Farm Aid, to New York City,” Nelson told the crowd. “More people eat probably around here than anywhere in the world.”

The Commissioner welcomed the concert to New York, recognizing the hard working agricultural community New York State boasts, as well as emphasizing the importance of generating awareness of locally grown food and being able to better link New York City consumers with Upstate farmers.

Organized by Willie Nelson, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million since 1985 to promote food from family farms, grow the good food movement, help farmers thrive, and take action to change the food system. Farm Aid 2007: A Homegrown Festival will take place Sept. 9, 2008 on Randall’s Island in New York City.

Tickets are currently available at Ticketmaster locations or online at www.tickermaster.com.