Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D, I-Utica/Rome) joined Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, and Senator Michelle Hinchey, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, for an information session and discussion of New York’s food supply chain. The event was held earlier today.

“The COVID-19 pandemic revealed troubling deficiencies in our state’s food supply chain, as upstate farmers were forced to dump crops and products, while countless families across the state were struggling to put food on the table,” said Buttenschon. “It’s critical that we make our food supply chain less dependent on international markets and corporate supply chains and enact legislation that supports New York farmers and helps low-income families access healthy, farm-fresh foods. I thank Assemblywoman Lupardo and Senator Hinchey for allowing me to join them for this important discussion and all those who attended and participated.”

This is the second information session that the lawmakers held. On December 13, they hosted a discussion on expanding access to nutritional food and supporting the next generation of farmers. Today’s session topic was strengthening New York’s food supply in the face of climate change. Through soil resilience and other green initiatives, the agricultural industry could be a leader in the fight against climate change and act as cornerstone industry for the future of our state, noted Buttenschon.

Since the COVID crisis began, Assemblywoman Buttenschon has been committed to supporting farmers and food producers in the Mohawk Valley and beyond. Earlier this year, she hosted a farm tour of six local farms for her fellow Assembly members, which was followed up by a visit to Hunt’s Point Market in the Bronx to help connect upstate producers and downstate businesses.