What's happening
This bill creates a program for New York to buy fresh produce from local farms and distribute it in food deserts.
Why it matters
Directly connects local farms to underserved communities. , potentially supporting small farmers economically while increasing access to healthy food in areas with limited grocery options.
Empowers the state agriculture commissioner to define and target “food deserts”. using not only federal definitions but also additional factors like local access, socioeconomic status, and proximity to healthy food outlets—allowing for a more nuanced and responsive approach.
Establishes clear rules for who can receive produce and which farms can participate. , aiming to ensure the program runs efficiently, targets those most in need, and supports New York-based agriculture.
Could help address systemic health disparities. by making nutritious, fresh foods more available in low-income or isolated neighborhoods, which may contribute to long-term public health improvements.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Deliver Fresh Food to Food Deserts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8468
IN SENATE
June 3, 2020
Introduced by Sen. JACKSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to providing fresh produce to food deserts in the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 51 to read as follows:
51. (a) Establish a program in the state to purchase fresh produce from farms located in the state utilizing all monies appropriated to such program and distribute such fresh produce in areas of the state determined by the commissioner to be food deserts. The commissioner shall promulgate for such program:
(i) eligibility and application criteria for individuals in areas in the state designated as food deserts to receive fresh produce pursuant to the program;
(ii) eligibility and application criteria for farms in the state to register as vendors to expedite the acquisition and distribution of fresh produce from such farms.
(b) As used in this subdivision "food desert" shall have the same meaning as defined by the United States department of agriculture. For the purposes of the program established pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the commissioner shall additionally consider readily available access to fresh foods, the socio-economics of an area, and the distance to food establishments that provide healthy and/or organic foods when determining what areas of the state are considered to be a food desert for the purposes of the program.
(c) The commissioner shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16418-01-0
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to provid- ing fresh produce to food deserts in the state
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that food deserts have access to fresh, healthy foods.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new subdivision 51 to Section 16 of the Agriculture and Market Laws that establishes a program where the state will purchase fresh produce from New York farms and distribute it to food deserts identified by the commissioner of agriculture and markets.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
This past period has made it clear that we need new ways to deliver safe, health, New York-grown fruits and vegetables to every zip code in our state. Too many neighborhoods are lacking access to sites where people can buy farm-fresh foods. This bill ensures that the many lessons we have learned, and the new food pathways we have developed, will be memorialized to benefit both the producers and consumers of New York's fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Legislative history
New bill.
State and local fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.