A bill that seeks to use the tremendous
buying power of state government to boost
purchases of locally grown foods for use in state prisons, hospitals and other agencies
has been signed into law by the governor.
Under
Senate Bill 4061, officials will be directed to create a list of competitively
priced food products available for institutional sale, giving state agencies
easy access to farm fresh products. State officials will also be required to
regularly update their local food purchasing lists and measure state agencies’ compliance
with directives to expand purchases from local food sources.
“Eating
local is a big trend right now—and it can mean big business for local farmers
and food producers. This legislation builds
upon that movement, seeking to use the purchasing power of state government to
help farmers grow,” said state Sen. Patricia Ritchie, chair of the Senate Agriculture
Committee and a sponsor of the bill.
“Not only
will this measure promote nutrition by putting more locally grown foods in our
prisons, hospitals and other state facilities, it will also boost the bottom
lines of our state’s hardworking farmers.”
Also known
as the “Food Metrics Bill” the measure is widely supported by a broad array of
groups, from farmers to environmentalists.
The legislation was named a top priority by
America’s Farmland Trust, a nationwide organization that promotes eating more
local foods as a way to help preserve farmland, farm industry and open space. In
addition, the New York League of Conservation Voters recognized Senator Ritchie
for her sponsorship of the legislation.
Ritchie also is a
sponsor of the “Buy from the Backyard Act” (S.978), which aims to boost local
farming by requiring state agencies to purchase 20 percent of their food
supplies from New York-based sources. In
addition, she worked to put New York milk back in employee
lunchrooms at the Capitol, which serve tens of thousands of state workers and
visitors every day.
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