SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

Monday, May 16th 10:00 am
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building, Second Floor
Albany, NY

In 1988, the Governor’s New York State Council on Food and Nutrition Policy, composed of the Commissioners of Health, Agriculture and Markets, Education, Aging, Social Services (now Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)), General Services, and the Council of Children and Families along with an advisory committee made up of health professionals, academics, program administrators and advocates, farmers, and consumers released a "Five Year Food and Nutrition Plan" for the State. The document included policy recommendations addressing issue areas that overlap several agencies and policies including "Food Adequacy and Accessibility," "Nutrition and Health," "Food and Nutrition Education," "Food Supply," and "Food Processing and Distribution." The Plan described the goals of food and nutrition policy, e.g. "…to not only provide adequate nutrition in an accessible and affordable manner, but also strive to achieve efficient growth in agricultural production, job generation, food security and expanded markets for growth." More recently, food policy advocates have promoted the concept of "community food security," defined as "individuals and families successfully obtaining a culturally acceptable, nutritious diet using local non-emergency sources."

Although the Council was disbanded shortly after developing the Plan, some progress was made in achieving some of its goals and recommendations in the years since the Plan was released. Successful initiatives included: increased State funding for food assistance with provisions encouraging the use of local farm products; expansion of school breakfast programs; development of the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs; and, creation of the Farm-to-School program and the Childhood Obesity Prevention Program. However, there are still significant policy challenges facing the State such as continued reliance on emergency food programs, increasing health care costs, especially Medicaid, as a result of increased rates of diet-related diseases, and the further loss of family farms and food businesses despite the proximity to one of the largest and most lucrative consumer markets in the world.

The Committees and Task Force would like to receive testimony on coordinated, comprehensive State food and nutrition policies which could address problems, such as limited food options, poor nutrition, and loss of farms.

Please see the next page for the list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony. Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony at this hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes’ duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees and Task Force will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees and Task Force would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements if not attending the hearing.

To further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees’ and Task Force’s interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY TO ALL OR SOME OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. PLEASE SUMMARIZE YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS DURING YOUR ORAL TESTIMONY.

1. Does the State need a comprehensive, coordinated Food Policy plan? Is there a need for legislation to establish comprehensive State Food Policy? What issues and goals would need to be addressed by such a plan?

2. Is there a need for a State Food Policy Council? How should such a Council be organized? Does it need to be part of State government? If yes, how should it be established, who should be members, and what powers should it have? Is there a need for local or regional policy councils?

3. What changes are needed in existing food, nutrition, and agricultural policies and programs that can mutually benefit both consumers and producers?

4. The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs provide food assistance and nutrition education to low-income seniors and WIC families, and increased profits for local farmers. What other specific policy and program ideas could address interrelated food policy concerns, such as limited food accessibility and affordability, and poor nutrition, and the need to promote consumption and sales of local farm products?

5. Please comment on Assembly Bill A.2651, which would create a Community Food Security Program to support projects designed to increase the availability of culturally acceptable, affordable, nutritionally adequate food, from local sources whenever possible. (To read the bill, please go to: http://Assembly.state.ny.us and type in A2651 under Quick Bill Search or contact the Task Force at 518-455-5203 to get a printed copy).

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on New York State Food Policy are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Robert Stern
Assembly Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy
Agency #4, 5th floor
Albany, New York 12248
Phone: (518) 455-5203;
fax: (518) 455-5573;
e-mail: sternr@assembly.state.ny.us

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required.