COSAP Co-op Launches Sustainable Apparel Collection to Raise Awareness and Support for AFT’s Farmland for a New Generation New York Program

May 22, 2025

American Farmland Trust (AFT) is proud to partner with Community Supported Apparel Cooperative (COSAP Co-op), a community-driven brand for a better food system, to raise awareness and funds for AFT’s Farmland for a New Generation New York program. Through sales from a limited-edition and ethically made apparel collection, COSAP Co-op will directly aid AFT’s work to help new farmers access land and resources to support their farming journey.

New York is facing a wave of farm transition with a third of farmers currently age 65 and older, owning two million acres of land that is set to change hands, putting it at-risk of being lost to development. Yet, there is hope. A new generation of farmers are seeking land to put down roots and become the next stewards of the land. While they face daunting challenges in finding suitable farmland at prices they can afford, organizations like AFT are working hard to build networks and provide support to help them succeed.

“We are thrilled to partner with the team at COSAP Co-op to share this sustainably made apparel collection and to be among the first organizations selected for their giving back program,” said Heidi Exline, New York & New Jersey Deputy Director at American Farmland Trust.

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Video: Designing a Robotic Berry Picker

Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.