GOVERNOR SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING COUNCIL ON FOOD POLICY
Council Will Coordinate Policies to Promote Agriculture, Health and Nutrition
Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that he has signed an executive
order establishing a New York State Council on Food Policy. The Council
will coordinate state agriculture policy and make recommendations on
developing food policy that will help ensure the availability of safe,
fresh, nutritious and affordable food for all New Yorkers, especially low
income residents, senior citizens and children. The Council will look at
ways to increase sales of New York agricultural products to New York
consumers, with a special emphasis on expanding the consumer market for
organic food.
Ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to safe, fresh and nutritious
food is a top priority that the Council on Food Policy will be addressing
head-on,said Governor Spitzer. The Council will bring the public,
producers and government together to explore ways in which we can improve
our existing food production and delivery systems, expand capacity, and in
particular, address the critical needs of children and low-income New
Yorkers. Additionally, by expanding the sale of locally grown products, we
can help struggling farmers, and expand the local agriculture and state
economy.
The New York State Council on Food Policy will include 21 representatives
from all areas of the food system, including six agency heads. The State
Agriculture Commissioner, Patrick Hooker, will serve as the Chairperson.
He will be joined by the Commissioners of Health, Office of Temporary and
Disability Assistance, Aging, Economic Development and the Consumer
Protection Board. The other members will be appointed by the Governor and
will include the Dean of the New York State College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences; 1 farm organization representative; 1 school food administrator;
1 consumer representative; 2 food assistance organization representative; 1
nutritionist; 1 anti-hunger advocate; and 3 representatives from the food
industry at large, which could include producers, distributors, processors
or retailers with at least one involved in organic production. There will
also be four appointed positions for members with experience and expertise
related to agriculture, nutrition or food policy that will be recommended
by the Temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, the
Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Assembly.
In addition to coordinating food policy, the Council will develop a
strategic plan to ensure access to affordable, fresh, healthy, nutritious
food and expand agricultural production, especially locally-grown and
organically-grown food. The sale of organic food is an emerging market,
with more than $13 billion spent on organic food in 2005
The Council will make recommendations to the Governor on state regulations,
legislation and budget proposals in the area of food policy to ensure a
coordinated and comprehensive inter-agency approach to state food policy
issues. The Council will deliver a written annual report to the Governor.
Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson said, The overall health of our
state will improve if we can make our eating habits healthier. The creation
of the New York State Council on Food Policy demonstrates that government
can work in partnership with communities and food producers to insure that
all New Yorkers, particularly senior citizens, children, and those who
struggle to afford healthy foods are aware of and have easy access to a
nutritious, balanced diet."
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said, New York has
36,000 family farms that work day in and day out to produce an abundance of
fresh, healthy and wholesome food for our 19 million consumers. I am
honored to chair the Council on Food Policy and believe it will serve as a
valuable forum in discussing the States complex, yet critical food system
for the benefit of consumers, farmers, processors, distributors and
retailers.
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner David A. Hansell
said, The ability to obtain nutritious and affordable food is of
particular importance to low-income families, who are stretching limited
resources to meet food and other vital needs. In forming this Council,
Governor Spitzer is ensuring that the needs of these families are
considered and acted upon in the development of food policy in New York
State.
New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., said,
Government decisions about food policy have driven consumers' eating
habits for decades, but not always to the benefit of personal health. I
appreciate Governor Spitzer's attention to these important issues that
affect the quality and longevity of people's lives, and look forward to
working with the Council to help create better policies and healthier
diets.
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A copy of the executive order is at
http://www.ny.gov/governor/executive_orders/exeorders/13.pdf
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