I/We support the Community Food Security Legislative Agenda for NYS which would:

Establish a NYS Council on Food and Nutrition Policy: A New York State Council on Food and Nutrition Policy should be re-established, pulling together the various state agencies that work on health, hunger, food and agriculture issues. When former Governor Cuomo established such a Council during the late 1980s, he stated “the basic goal of a food and nutrition policy is not only to provide adequate nutrition in an accessible and affordable manner, but also to strive to achieve efficient growth in agricultural production, job generation, food security and expanded markets for goods.” Food Policy Councils help convene multiple stakeholders in a food system, providing a forum for a comprehensive examination of a food system. The Council would enable different parts of the food system and government to learn more about what each does and consider how their actions impact other parts of the food system. The Council would also work to create policies that support regional food systems designed to benefit small farmers and low-income communities alike.

Community Food Security, Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED) program (A2651): The SEED program would provide grants for community food security projects in low-income neighborhoods. Projects would: increase the availability of culturally acceptable, affordable, nutritionally adequate food, from local sources whenever possible; develop linkages between local farmers and communities served by the projects; support job development and training; support entrepreneurship; and encourage community collaboration and decision making in the development of projects. Potential projects would include: providing training in urban gardening and sales, assisting entrepreneurs in starting micro-enterprises, supporting farmers` markets in distressed neighborhoods, and, providing food-based educational opportunities for schools.

Increase State Funding for Farmers’ Markets: Increase state funding to establish more farmers’ markets, especially in low-income neighborhoods. Support efforts to establish wholesale Farmers’ Markets that promote food products grown in New York; A8001 would finance the construction or improvement of such a market in NYC. Ensure state funds for more farmers’ markets to adopt the EBT (Electronic Benefits Transaction) card system so that more farmers can accept food stamps.

Refund the NYS Council on Community Gardens in the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets: While funding for the Council has not been provided in recent years, the law creating the council remains on the books. The council helps to: identify public lands available for community garden use; provide support for community gardens and encourage cooperative extensions, community organizations and local governments to provide land, tools, input and expertise to residents; work with interested communities to develop urban agricultural projects such as city farms; and, work with communities to obtain stable ownership of land for community gardens in urban and rural areas.

Increase government funding and protection for community gardens. S1019 seeks to prevent the conversion of community gardens by dedicating such plots after one year into parkland and preventing its future sale unless approved by the local Zoning or Community Board.

Preserve Farmland: Maintain farmland of sufficient quality and quantity to preserve New York’s diverse farm industry’s ability to produce agricultural products. The State should actively encourage communities to zone land for agricultural use, grant farmland preservation easements, and provide stable land tenure for community gardens, urban agricultural production and farm markets within their jurisdiction. At least double state funding of the Environmental Protection Fund for the Purchase of Development Rights for farmland and open space. Support legislation (A6450 / S3253) to give New York towns the authority to create Community Preservation Funds using a local real estate transfer fee of 2% or less, if approved by a local law and voter referendum. Support increased state and local action to control suburban sprawl. Legislation is needed to encourage regional planning and sharing of resources; remove subsides to sprawl; eliminate barriers to redevelopment and revitalization of existing communities; and increase investment in the public transit system. The Smart Growth Infrastructure Act (A3574 / S2070) would require state projects that construct or expand public infrastructure to comply with seven smart growth criteria designed to maximize the use of existing infrastructure and to minimize the costs to taxpayers.

Buy Locally Grown Produce: Expand the NYS purchasing program for in-state fruits, vegetables, dairy and animal products to serve all state-run schools, colleges, hospitals, prisons, government agencies and other institutions. A8000 would fund projects supporting the transportation and distribution of New York State farm grown products to food service markets, including schools and colleges, especially in underserved communities. New York should actively promote Community Supported Agriculture.