Establishes a farm-to-senior program to facilitate and promote the purchase of New York farm products by senior centers and other institutions for the aging

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 of bill adds a new subdivision 15 to section 202 of the elder law to require the director of the office for the aging to establish a farm-to-senior program to facilitate and promote the purchase of farm products by senior centers and other institutions for the aging under the jurisdiction of the office. The office will make information about New York farm products available to farmers, farm organizations, and institutions for the aging interested in establishing farm-to senior programs.

A new subdivision 16 of the Ag & Markets Law would require the establishment of a farm-to-senior program where the Department would gather information from the Office for the Aging regarding senior centers and other aging institutions interested in purchasing NY farm products. This information would be made readily available to interested NY farmers, farm organizations and businesses that market NY farm products. The Department would provide information to the Office for the Aging and interested aging institutions about the availability of NY farm products. The Commissioner would also report to the Legislature on the opportunities for changes in law to facilitate the purchases of such products by senior centers, and other institutions for the aging.

Additionally, the Office for the Aging and the Department of Ag & Markets would coordinate to establish a promotional event to be known as New York Golden Harvest: Seniors Week to promote NY agriculture, and foods to seniors at senior centers, farms, farmers' markets and other aging institutions.

Justification

With the success of the 2002 Farm-to-School legislation and subsequent law, this legislation seeks to provide the same access for seniors, as the current law does to students, throughout New York State. Senior centers and other aging institutions under the jurisdiction of the New York State Office for the Aging are a huge potential market for New York farm products, however, it appears that only a small percentage of the food served in these senior centers originates from local farms. Increasing senior centers' purchases of New York produced food would help improve the bottom line of New York farmers at a time when the loss of farmers and farmland continues to accelerate because of low profits in agriculture. It would also provide urban, suburban and rural seniors improved access to fresh, local nutritious foods

Fortunately, there is recognition at the federal level that fostering farm-to-senior marketing is important, The Senior Farmers' Market

Nutrition Program (SFMNP) awards grants to States to provide low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agricultural programs. The majority of the grant funds must be used to support the costs of the foods that are provided under the SFMNP. State agencies may use up to 10 percent of their grants to support administrative costs for the program. Additionally, in New York State, there are laws that allow for bidding exemptions making it easier for schools to buy direct from local farms.

To build upon the efforts of the successful farm-to-school state law, seniors and farmers need the assistance of the relevant State agencies, (the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the State Office for the Aging). This bill would create such a program to facilitate a working relationship for the purchase and promotion of farmers' products with local senior centers and aging institutions. For example, a website could be created where senior center food service directors and marketers of New York farm products could easily identify sellers, buyers and available products. New York State government should make every possible effort to maximize the use of government funding for senior meals to purchase nutritious, locally produced foods to benefit the health of seniors and our local economy and allow Upstate and Downstate, city and rural residents to support each other.

Legislative history

S.7452 of 2012

Fiscal implications

Existing federal and State funds would be used.

Effective date

120 days after it becomes law, provided, however, that the Director of the Office for the Aging and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets are authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date on or before such date.