Hunger Action Network of New York State

Expanding the Local Food Economy in New York State

In establishing the NYS Food Policy Council in 2007, the Governor charged it with two related goals: (a) develop and recommend a food policy for the State which recognizes that it is in the best interests of the State to ensure the availability of an adequate supply of affordable, fresh, nutritious food to its residents; (b) develop and recommend State policies to expand agricultural production, including locally-grown and organically-grown food. Hunger Action has made a number of recommendations for steps the Food Policy Council should take in 2009 to expand the local food economy, starting with setting a goal of increasing the percentage of food consumed by New Yorkers that is locally grown by 2% annually.

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The New York State Food Policy, the creation of which was a long time Hunger Action priority, held its first meeting on October 15. 2007. A Food Policy Council is intended to help end hunger; promote better nutrition; and support small family farms.

We believe that a critical role for the Council is to help convene the multiple stakeholders in our food system, bringing together individuals and government agencies which do not typically work directly with each other nor are they asked to be involved when farm and agricultural policy is discussed. Such councils in other states have provided a mechanism to discuss emerging issues such as local foods, direct marketing, small and mid-sized farms and other "new agriculture" developments which fall outside traditional "farm" programs. more >

HANNYS is part of the growing national Community Food Security movement that aims to end hunger by uniting regional economies, communities in need, and locally grown food. Community Food Security’s basic principle is that all people should have access to an adequate amount of nutritious food, at all times, through local, non-emergency sources. Advocates, community organizers, faith-based groups, concerned citizens, students and many others are currently working together to reach this goal and to ensure the basic human right to food in New York State.

New York’s food pantries and soup kitchens are now an essential front line in fighting hunger, giving food to people in need. Yet, the demand increases each year as the root causes of hunger persist. In response, emergency food providers and many others who work to end hunger are beginning to explore how we might improve access to healthy food within the context of our “food system.”

A food system is essentially a web of connections, from production to consumer, through which food makes it to your table. Our typical food systems actually play a major role in the hunger crisis in our state. In the case of a person or family that is food insecure, linkages within the food system are weak at some point so that adequate food does NOT reach their table. As examples: an elderly person living alone may be physically unable to access a farmers’ market or nearby supermarket; many lower income people live in neighborhoods with convenience stores that typically do not offer affordable or locally grown produce; families living in outlying regions of a county can not use WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Coupons at small farm stands near their homes; and many New York farmers are struggling to find markets alongside community members unable to meet their food needs. These are examples of systemic problems that may involve a range of challenges, such as lack of transportation, limited income, businesses not being willing to open shop in inner cities, or inadequate links between local farmers and their communities.

By providing food for people solely through the emergency food system, we focus entirely on treating the symptom of an insufficient food system. In contrast, the community food security movement addresses the root causes of hunger and strives to make a more democratic food system that gives communities greater control in choosing how their food is produced, distributed, and accessed.

Hunger Action invites emergency food providers, farmers, schools, social service workers, and anyone who is concerned about their community's health and economic well-being to join us in moving the food system approach to the forefront of the fight against hunger. In order to assess local food systems and facilitate viable solutions, Hunger Action has been conducting regional community food organizing meetings in partnership with grassroots community organizations across the state since 2004. Contact us to learn how to start growing a solution to hunger in your community!

Download our new manual “Growing a Healthy NY: Innovative Food Projects that End Hunger and Strengthen Communities.” manual | addendum
The manual features 24 programs that increase access to fresh food and promote economic development, provide job training to youth, increase participation in federal nutrition programs, and unite people with local farmers. Also Download, "Manual Order Form" and “Project Interest Flyer”

Food Justice in NYC: Over 130 community food advocates, anti-hunger advocates, and concerned citizens attended a community conference on Food Justice on June 28, 2005 in NYC. Click here to read a Summary of Feedback from the Break-Out Sessions. Click here to read the NYC Market Gap Analysis.
Contact us to get involved!

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