JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Register for the No Farms No Food Rally in Albany
On March 13, farmers, local food advocates, and any New York State resident who cares about and understands the importance of having local farms will band together to show state legislators their support for land conservation and local food access. Get more information and register for the 2013 No Farms No Food Rally here.

NYC Mayor Piloting Curbside Food Waste Composting Program
In February's State of the City address, Mayor Bloomberg announced plans to "double the city's recycling rate to 30% by 2017" by making recycling easier, increasing the types of recyclable plastic, and, most notably, beginning efforts to recycle food waste with a curbside pilot program on Staten Island. NYC spends almost $100 million taking food waste to landfills, so this program would be cost effective, environmentally sound, and create compost for use in parks.

Food & Farm Bill Update

2012 came and went without a new Food & Farm Bill. Instead, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the White House struck a deal for a 9-month extension of the 2008 Farm Bill as part of the fiscal cliff negotiations. The extension deal does not cut food stamps. It does, however, continue direct payments that support over-production of commodity crops by big agribusiness.  It also lets many programs that support small farms and beginning and socially-disadvantaged farmers hang in limbo without funding. The extension lasts until September 30, 2013. Thus advocates must continue to push for a fairer Food & Farm Bill late into 2013. 

Study Finds Pesticides Harm Brain Function
A new scientific study finds that workers exposed to organophosphate pesticide exposure had reduced working memory and were slower to process information. The report is part of a growing body of research finding that pesticides cause health problems.

Rise in Need for Emergency Food 
The U.S. Conference of Mayors' annual "Hunger and Homelessness Survey" found continuing growth in the demand for emergency food and housing. Emergency kitchens and food pantries in nearly all of the cities surveyed had to reduce the quantity of food a client could receive, and people in need had to be turned away in nearly 90% of the cities. Read the full report (pdf) here.

December 2012

Action Alert: Label GMOs

Last month the California ballot initiative Prop 37, which would have required labeling of GMO ingredients in food sold in state, did not pass by a small 53-47 margin (due in large part to the millions of dollars Monsanto and other corporations contributed to scaring & misinforming the public on what the legislation would do). Yet the effort in California brought great momentum  to the GMO labeling movement in the U.S. Support the national Just Label It campaign: sign the petition today urging Congress and the FDA to label GMOs. We need to know what is in our food. Corporations should not be allowed to keep it hidden from us.   

NYC Fast-Food Workers Strike!
Last Thursday, a one-day strike by NYC-based workers of McDonald's, Burger King, Domino's, KFC, Taco Bell, Wendy's and Papa John's launched the biggest effort to unionize fast-food workers in U.S. history. The fast-food industry is the lowest-paid job sector in NYC, where there is mainly part-time, contingent work, few protections or benefits, and frequent worker turn-over that make unionizing particularly challenging. The Fast Food Forward campaign is organizing employees to sign-on to petitions demanding living wages and the right to organize. You can show your support for the campaign by signing their petition today!

Food & Farm Bill Update 

Thanks to all who participated in the National Day of Action for a Better Farm Bill! While the House has yet to take up the farm bill in the current session, we must continue to let our representatives know the farm bill must:

• end hunger by increasing food stamps rather than cutting benefits, 
• support local and regional food systems, 
• promote healthy foods, 
• protect conservation funding, and 
• recognize the role of family farmers in strengthening rural and urban communities. 

Stay up to speed on how your legislators vote on food policy: check out Food Policy Action's National Food Policy Scorecard.

Pediatricians Agree, Pesticides are Harming Kids
A report released in November by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) links pesticide exposure to children's health problems, including harmful effects on the nervous system and increased risk of some childhood cancers. The report urges policymakers to reduce children's exposure to pesticides, protecting children where they live, learn, and play, and investing in farmers who use less toxic pesticide alternatives. The AAP conclusions complement those in this recent Pesticide Action Network report.

November 2012

Food & Farm Bill Update
With the campaign and election season coming to a close, Congress has a short window to pass a Food & Farm Bill in 2012. Join thousands in demanding that Congress pass an equitable, sustainable Food & Farm Bill this year! Each and every action to improve the food system matters. This petition calls on Congress to act immediately to (1) invest in the future of healthy farms, food and people, (2) protect our precious air, soil and water, and (3) reform farm subsidies and level the farming playing field. Sign the petition today!

Food MythBusters Launched!
October saw the launch of Food MythBusters, a new series of online videos produced to help food advocates and everyday eaters detect truth from fiction when it comes to our food and how it’s made. The first film takes on the myth that we need chemical agriculture to feed the world. The Food MythBusters are also creating "Food Heroes" videos about people putting the principles of food justice and sustainable farming into practice. These videos are free tools for engaging your community in food justice advocacy, and more are being developed. Share with friends and family or use them in your organizing work!

October 2012

September 2012

Farmers' Markets Continue to Rise in U.S.

'Tis the season for the annual update of farmers' markets! In August, the USDA released the 2012 National Farmers Market Directory, which now includes 7,864 markets around the U.S. This represents a 9.6% rise from 2011 and more than double the number of markets since 2004. Of these markets, 22 are part of Just Food's City Farms Markets Network, a group of community-run farmers markets that support both urban growers and regional farmers and serve low-income communities in New York City. Find the City Farms Market nearest you, and support your community and urban and regional farmers!

Food & Farm Bill Update  

The update on the 2012 Food & Farm Bill is that....there's not much to update! Congress has been on their summer recess and won't return until September 10. Stay tuned later in September for updates from the NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group about the status of the next Farm Bill, and possible extension of the existing legislation, since a new bill is unlikely to be agreed upon by the September 30 deadline.

 

All Eyes on California in Fight for GMO-Labeling

50 countries already have mandatory genetically-modified organism (GMO) labeling laws, but here in the U.S. you don't have the right to know if your food has been genetically engineered. Californians are trying to change that with a November ballot iniatiave that, if passed, would require labeling of GMO foods sold in the state and have ripple effects in GMO labeling in other states throughout the country. Monsanto, DuPont, Dow, ConAgra and a host of other biotech, pesticide and processed food corporations have already raised $25 million this year to ensure the ballot initiative fails and that we're left in the dark about what's in our food. Be part of the grassroots movement taking on corporate control of our food by supporting the California Right to Know Campaign by September 12!

August 2012

Action Alert--Label GMOs!

Show your solidarity with residents of California who are mobilizing to better know what's in their food. This fall, Californians may vote on the Proposition 37 Right to Know initiative, which would require labeling of genetically modified (GMOs) ingredients in foods sold in California. A passage of GMO labeling in California could boost similar initiatives in other states, including New York.  Show your support and add your endorsement today!

New Report on NYC Agriculture
On July 24, the Design Trust for Public Space and Added Value released Five Borough Farm: Seeding the Future of Urban Agriculture in New York City. The report documents existing urban agriculture sites, provides tools for tracking urban agriculture activity and impacts, and proposes policy to help strengthen, expand and make permanent urban agriculture in the city. Check out the project website, including information on how to order the report.

Food & Farm Bill Update
Following the passage of the Senate version of the Food and Farm Bill in June, the House Agriculture Committee agreed on their version of the bill in early July. The House version would impose even greater harm to anti-hunger, health, conservation and sustainable food and farming efforts. The committee bill has yet to be scheduled for a House floor vote. It's possible that an extension of the current legislation will occur this year and the debate on the bill will be pushed back to 2013. Stay informed with the NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group! 

July 2012

Action Alert: Shop City Farms Markets!

Want to show your support for community-run food projects, increased access to fresh food, and urban gardeners and farmers? Just Food's City Farms Markets are a network of community-run farmers markets in New York City that support both urban growers and regional farmers and serve low-income communities. City Farms Markets are now open! Check out times and locations, and see you at the markets!   

More Locally-Grown Food in New NYC Procurement Guidelines

In June NYC Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Quinn announced a set of guidelines encouraging City agencies to procure more New York State food products and to track current purchasing of NYS food when possible. New York City is one of the first major cities to develop a specific initiative on local food procurement.

Food & Farm Bill Update
The road to the 2012 (or 2013) Farm Bill continues. In June the Senate passed their version of the legislation and now  the House Agriculture Committee is beginning to negotiate their draft bill. The NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group will keep you informed with updates and alerts as the House process moves forward. In the meantime, check out this new publication by the National Sustainable Agriculture Working Group: A Northeast Farm Bill Agenda: Priorities for the 2012 Farm Bill.

Vermont Lawsuit Challenges False "Natural"  Foods Labeling
In June two groups hit Pinnacle Foods Group with a lawsuit in Vermont, contending the company's labeling of GMO and synthetic foods as "all natural" violates the Vermont Consumer Protection Act. As the Food And Drug Administration does not have a definition of "natural," the groups believe this allows states to come up with their own.

June 2012

Action Alert: Save GreenThumb!

Join the fight against further budget cuts to the NYC Parks Department and its community garden division GreenThumb! This year the Federal Block Grant Program, which fully funds GreenThumb, was cut by Congress and along with it $70,000 of GreenThumbs funding. NYC has never allocated any of its budget to GreenThumb. Its time the City step up and use our city tax dollars to make up for the federal budget cut. GreenThumb needs more funding, not less! Already operating on a shoestring budget, $70,000 could pay for:

• Two GrowTogether conferences
• 4,666 raised beds
• 106 loads of topsoil
• 70 steel sheds
• 1,400 linear feet of new fencing

Your action is needed NOW.

1. Testify at the City Council Budget Hearing, to be held at City Council Chambers at City Hall in Manhattan on Wednesday, June 6, at 3:30 PM. The public comment period begins at 3:30, but arrive earlier to sign up if you want to speak as the comment period is first-come, first-serve.
2. Submit a written statement to the City Council. Even if you cannot attend the City Council public hearing, you can submit a written statement. Email or fax your statement to Tanisha Edwards at tedwards@council.nyc.gov or 212-788-7061 on or before Wednesday, June 6. Indicate that the statement is to be included in the record for the Parks Department Executive Budget Hearing.
3. Contact your local Council Member and the Mayor. Let them know that community gardens matter, and the GreenThumb budget needs to be better funded now! Find your Council Member. Contact the Mayor's Office.

Win! Finger Imaging Requirement for Food Stamp Eliminated in New York
On May 17, after years of campaigning by anti-hunger advocates for New York to eliminate finger imaging of food stamp recipients--a practice staunchly supported by NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg--Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state will end this wasteful and stigmatizing requirement. Proponents of finger imaging contend it reduces fraud, while opponents argued it fails to reduce fraud, while adding a criminal stigma to the program, keeping food from hungry New Yorkers and leaving over $1 billion in federal food dollars out of New York's economy every year. Over 1.4 million New Yorkers are eligible for food stamps but don't receive them. Before this action, New York and Arizona were the only two states in the country to impose this requirement.

Farm Bill Update
As you may know, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed their version of the Farm Bill in late April. Now we expect the entire Senate to debate the bill, beginning sometime later this week. Just Food and the rest of the NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group will keep you informed as the process moves forward and action is needed. And at the city level, we commend the New York City Council for introducing and passing a resolution in support of an adequately funded Farm Bill that supports a strong and healthy food system! The resolution was co-sponsored by 45 Council Members and was passed on May 31.

California GMO Label Ballot Initiative
Want to know if the cereal, granola bars and other foods you're eating contain genetically engineered ingredients? Countries like Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Russia and the entire European Union include GMO labeling on food packaging. In the US? Not yet, but the movement is growing. Building on the national Just Label It campaign and labeling bills in at least a dozen other states, Californians are mobilizing to pass legislation requiring GMO labeling. This fall, the movement may make history if the California Right to Know 2012 ballot initiative is passed. A win won't come easy, as they are taking on the lobbying and marketing dollars of Monsanto and other big biotech and big agriculture corporations in the process. For more on the ballot initiative check out Label GMOs.
 

May 2012

Action Alert: Ban Fracking in New York!

Keep the pressure on to ban fracking in New York. New Yorkers Against Fracking plans to deliver petitions to Governor Cuomo urging him to ban hydrofracking in New York state as part of a statewide Day of Action. Sign the petition here, and find info about a anti-fracking rally and concert on May 15 in Albany.  

This Month's Food & Farm Bill Resource: 

Last week, as part of the NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group, Just Food sent out an alert calling for New Yorkers to stand up for SNAP and farm to school programs in the Farm Bill negotiations in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Last Thursday, the committee agreed on a draft bill, which will next go to the larger Senate for debate and vote (see article above for more). Positively, the final version of the Senate committee bill maintains or advances some programs supporting community and local food systems. However, the bill proposes cuts of $6 billion in conservation programs and $4 billion in food stamps over the next ten years. New York State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was one of five who voted against the bill, and the only who did so because of the SNAP cuts. Your calls make a difference! Stay updated at the Working Group's website.

New Study Finds Autism Linked to Food
A new study abstract published by Clinical Epigenetics finds that the US autism epidemic may be linked to diet. The study contends mineral deficiencies could impact how the body rids itself of common toxic chemicals like mercury and pesticides. "To better address the explosion of autism, it's critical we consider how unhealthy diets interfere with the body's ability to eliminate toxic chemicals, and ultimately our risk for developing long-term health problems like autism," said Dr. David Wallinga, a study co-author and physician at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

USDA Links SNAP to Reduced Poverty Rates
Do food stamps reduce poverty? Yes, says a new study  by the USDA. The study finds that food stamps, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), reduced the poverty rate substantially during the recession, by an average of 4.4 percent between 2000 and 2009. The USDA study provides figures that support sustaining funding of the food stamp program, which continues to face cuts in annual appropriations and current Farm Bill legislative processes. 

APRIL 24, 2012NYC FOOD AND FARM BILL WORKING GROUPACTION ALERT!!!
The first draft of the 2012 Farm Bill is here – and it doesn’t do nearly as much as it should to fight hunger and support local and regional food systems, so we need your help.

It’s not too late to get a better food and farm bill through Congress – if we act quickly! Tomorrow the Senate agriculture committee will vote on a series of amendments to the draft bill, including amendments that protect food stamps from cuts, help more schools serve fresh, healthy, local food, and help families receiving food stamps become self-sufficient.

We have only a one-day window – these amendments were filed yesterday and will be voted on tomorrow – so Senator Gillibrand and Chairwoman Stabenow need to hear from you today!

Will you call Senator Gillibrand and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow today?

Call Senator Gillibrand today: (202) 224-4451

1. Thank her for introducing the Gillibrand Amendment to protect children from SNAP cuts
2. Ask her to also support the Casey Farm to School Amendment and the Brown Employment and Training amendment
3. Ask her to vote no on any amendments that cut SNAP

Call Chairwoman Stabenow today: (202) 224-4822:

1. Ask her to support the Gillibrand, Casey and Brown amendments
2. Ask her to vote no on any amendments that cut SNAP

Call today – it’s easy and it takes just a moment to deliver this important message.

Thank you for all that you do,

The NYC Food and Farm Bill Working Group
http://foodbillnyc.wikispaces.com/

April 2012

Action Alert -- Bee-Toxic Pesticide!

On March 22 a legal petition was filed that calls on EPA to suspend registration of Bayer's controversial bee-toxic pesticide, clothianidin. Pesticide Action Network is now calling on Congress to use its authority to exercise oversight over federal agencies like EPA. Congress can call a hearing, and they alone can fix a broken pesticide law that leaves EPA hamstrung and captive to industry players like Bayer. Help them understand what's at stake: Send a letter to Congressional leaders today!

Just Label It Campaign Update

Last month's action alert urged you to sign the Just Label It petition calling on the FDA to enforce labeling of genetically modified foods. We're thrilled that the petition with more than one million signatories was submitted to the FDA calling for genetically engineered foods to be labeled! Stay tuned for updates as the FDA processes the public outpouring for GMO labeling.

This Month's Food & Farm Bill Resource:
In March, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition released its 2012 Farm Bill policy platform, Farming for the Future: A Sustainable Agriculture Agenda for the 2012 Food & Farm Bill.  The platform is the culmination of two years of policy work with a broad, diverse coalition of over 90 grassroots organizations from across the country.  It reflects the real, urgent needs of farmers, ranchers, and food entrepreneurs. Farming for the Future spans nearly every title in the farm bill and reflects a comprehensive approach to farm policy reform.

UN Expert Argues Right To Food Must Include a Nutritious Diet
A new report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, argues that a nutritious diet needed to live a healthy and active life must be included in the human right to food. “Our food systems are making people sick,” warned De Schutter. “One in seven people globally are undernourished, and many more suffer from the 'hidden hunger' of micronutrient deficiency, while 1.3 billion are overweight or obese.” Mr. De Schutter identified five priority actions for placing nutrition at the heart of food systems in the developed and developing world:  

1. Taxing unhealthy products;
2. Regulating foods high in saturated fats, salt and sugar;   
3. Cracking down on junk food advertising;
4. Overhauling misguided agricultural subsidies that make certain ingredients cheaper than others; and
5. Supporting local food production so that consumers have access to healthy, fresh and nutritious foods.
    

Urgent Update: Tell congress to restore funding to the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP)!

WIC FMNP serves a critical role in helping small and mid-scale farmers provide fresh produce to underserved families through farmers markets. In appropriation for the current year 2012, WIC FMNP got cut by an estimated 30%. While we need to explore any possible ways in local, state or federal budgetary channels to minimize the impact of this cut for the 2012 market season, we must act now in order to help ensure funding is fully restored in 2013.

The House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittees are currently accepting testimony on the 2013 budget, until March 20 for the House and March 30 for the Senate.

Act Now to restore this vital funding!

As an individual…
Please send a letter (this one or your own!) to the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriation subcommittees (ag.approp@mail.house.gov and agri@appro.senate.gov). Then let your Senators and Representative know why you have submitted testimony in support of WIC FMNP. Find contact information for your Senators at www.senate.gov and your Representative at www.house.gov.

As a representative of a farmer, market or related organization…
Wholesome Wave and Just Food have created a national sign-on letter so that concerned farmers, markets and organizations from  across the country have a strong, unified voice in sending Congress the message that WIC FMNP is vital to our markets, farmers and WIC mothers and children and that funding must be restored. Read the letter here and then sign on!

TO SIGN-ON:
Please send the following information to Nadia Johnson at Just Food (nadia@justfood.org) by Wednesday, March 28:

• Your name
• Name of your market, farm or organization
• City/Town, State
• Email and/or phone number

Your sign-on will be added to the letter and will be submitted by Ned Porter at Wholesome Wave on behalf of the signatories.

Though the final deadline for sign-ons is March 28, signing on earlier is better. Any sign-ons received by 3pm EST on Tuesday, March 20 will be submitted to the House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee, meeting their deadline of the same day. All sign-ons received by March 28 will be submitted to the Senate Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee, whose deadline is March 30.

If you have questions, please contact Ned Porter at Wholesome Wave: ned@wholesomewave.org, 207-310-1047.

A monthly harvest of food and farm news, views and actions

March 2012

Action Alert: Just Label It!

Do you know if your food contains genetically engineered (GE) ingredients? Did you know that 80% of processed foods at U.S. grocery stores are likely to contain genetically engineered ingredients? Most people don't know if they are eating GE ingredients--also called genetically modified organisms (GMOs) because the FDA does not require labeling on food products comprised of GMOs. If you want the FDA to enforce labeling on genetically modified foods, sign this petition and demand to Just Label It!

Know your Farmer, Know your Food Compass
As USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced at the Just Food Conference last weekend, On February 29, the USDA launched the new "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass." This online compass takes farmers, ranchers, community leaders, consumers, and foodies alike into an interactive world of local and regional food systems. Using multimedia maps, stories, pictures and videos, viewers can find resources for locally sourced food; meet farmers, ranchers and businesses that are participating in local food chains in specific communities and learn about food projects throughout the country.

This Month's Food & Farm Bill Resource:
Ever dreamed of being a farmer? The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) has a new website to help get farmers and ranchers started. Start2Farm provides information on funding, training, networking and legal and technical assistance, and shares stories from beginning farmers and ranchers. BFRDP, originally funded by the 2008 Farm Bill, is now funded through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act. The NYCFFBWG and others are advocating to include an act in the 2012 Farm Bill which would provide future support to the program.

Anti-hydrofracking Victories!
While we await word from the New York State Governor and Department of Environmental Conservation on their fracking proposal following their January 11 deadline for comments, there has been a major local victory to protect our farmland, water and food supplies from hydraulic fracking! This past week two New York State Justices ruled in favor of fracking bans in upstate New York towns!  

Justice Phillip R. Rumsey ruled that the town of Dryden in Tompkins County can ban natural gas drilling within its boundaries stating state law does not prohibit communities from regulating the use of land by the oil and gas industry. Justice Rumsey ruled that the municipality can use its power to regulate land use to ban oil and natural gas production. This ruling was the first in New York to affirm local powers in the controversy over drilling in the Marcellus Shale, a gas deposit under a large area of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Days later Justice Donald F. Cerio, Jr. for the Otsego County Supreme Court ruled that the town of Middlefield, NY has the right to ban fracking. To learn more about these victories and information on what you can do to advocate for fracking bans visit www.riverkeeper.org.

February 2012

Action Alert: Break Up with Trader Joe's!

This Valentine's Day, BREAK UP WITH TRADER JOE'S!  After nearly two years of a nationwide campaign, Trader Joe's still refuses to sign an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to  ensure that farm workers in their supply chains get treated humanely and paid at least one penny more per pound of tomatoes they pick. This Sunday, February 12th at 2PM, the Community/Farmworker Alliance NYC invites you to join Trader Joe's customers in front of the Union Square Trader Joe's where we will rally as a delegation takes in break up letters to Trader Joe's. The event will feature all the giant pink hearts you can stand, live music & hot chocolate.  

U.S. Mayors Establish Food Policy Task Force 

At its January meeting, the U.S. Conference of Mayors formed a food policy task force, which will collect information on innovative food programs across the country, highlight best practices, and address how farm bill policies could positively impact urban food environments. A report of the findings will be considered at its June 2012 meeting, and could guide and influence how Mayors of cities across the U.S. address such issues as food-related illnesses, fresh food deserts, urban agriculture and more.  

This month's Food & Farm Bill Resource:   

The NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group is leading a series of Digging into the Food & Farm Bill workshops at the Just Food Conference 2012: Eat. Work. Grow the  Movement. See information on these and other conference workshops here! 

Discrimination Claims for Women and Latino Farmers Increased
On January 25, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the Obama Administration will increase the amount of claims that Latino and Women farmers can file against the USDA for discrimination between 1981-2000. This builds on the Administration's advancement on work to address past discrimination by the USDA, which recently included settlements for Native American and Black farmers.  

January 2012

Action Alert: Last Chance to Speak out against Fracking in NY!
If you want to help protect our drinking and farming water from fracking in New York, January 11 is the last day to tell the Governor and the Department of Environmental Conservation to change their fracking proposal! 

Child obesity rates down in NYC  

In December the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a decrease in obesity rates of NYC public school kids over the past five years. The rate dropped from 21.9% to 20.7%, with significant drops among all children in kindergarten through eighth grade and across all socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, yet the decrease was smaller among Black and Latino children and kids from low-income families. NYC is the largest city to report such a decrease, though obesity still impacts 1 in 5 public school children in the city.  

This month's Food & Farm Bill Resource:   

American Farmland Trust's timeline of the 2012 (or 2013) Farm Bill and overview to understanding the legislative process. As always, stay connected to and engaged in advocacy in NYC through the NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group. 

Bill Addressing Fresh Food Deserts Re-Introduced
On November 30, New York State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Pennsylvania Representative Allyson Schwartz introduced identical bills in the Senate and House to establish a Healthy Food and Financing Initiative (HFFI) within the USDA. The initiative would bring $125 million towards establishing, expanding or renovating supermarkets, grocery stores, food cooperatives, farmers markets, and other food retail outlets in underserved low- to mid-income communities across the U.S.    

December 2011

Action Alert: Fracking in NY!
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) extended the comment period for its draft environmental impact statement on hydraulic fracturing until January 11 due to public pressure and concerns about contamination of our water supply. The DEC's draft impact statement recommends that drilling go ahead, but with conditions. Drilling permits in New York will not be issued until the DEC's draft impact statement has been finalized and new regulations are in place.  

Voice your opinion on the DEC's recommendation to end a year-long ban on drilling in New York.   

Update on the Food & Farm Bill

Last month we reported that the House and Senate Agricultural Committees aimed to rewrite the Farm Bill in two weeks, proposing to cut $23 billion from Farm Bill programs as part of the $1.5 trillion of cuts to present to the congressional "Super Committee." Since the Super Committee failed to reach an agreement, the "secret Farm Bill," with $23 billion in proposed cuts, is being scrapped or delayed. Negotiations for the next Farm Bill will likely occur in the first half of 2012, or perhaps even 2013. The NYC Food & Farm Bill Working Group is working to keep NYC updated and engaged in the political process that significantly determines the food we eat, how much it costs and how it is produced. Contact the Working Group to get involved and stay tuned for monthly updates in this newsletter. 

This month's Food & Farm Bill Resource:  

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition provides updates on the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act, a recently introduced piece of legislation supporting greater development of local and regional food and farm systems that could be included in the upcoming Farm Bill.  

New Report Highlights Needs of Young Farmers

The National Young Farmers Coalition released a report in November documenting the challenges young and beginning farmers face across the U.S. Access to capital, land and health insurance were among the most common challenges identified in the survey of over 1,000 young farmers. 

November 2011

Focus on the Food & Farm Bill
Food justice advocates, agri-corporate lobbyists and government officials are gearing up for the next Farm Bill--or what many advocates argue should be called the Food & Farm Bill, as it's the nation's largest piece of legislation that addresses the food we eat, how much it costs and how it's produced. Just Food will feature a new resource each month to raise awareness and action around the next Farm Bill.

The Two-Week Farm Bill
Pressured by the Congressional "Supercommittee", who must find $1.5 trillion dollars of cuts to government programs, the Agricultural Committee in both the House and Senate have announced that they will rewrite the Farm Bill within two weeks. The cuts could have detrimental effects on conservation programs, among others. Despite this announcement by the Agricultural Committee, the Supercommittee may or may not even take their points into account.

This month's Food & Farm Bill Resource: The FOOD and FARM BILL: Why New York City Cares from The NYC Food and Farm Bill Working Group.

Action Alert! FARM BILL 2012
The House and Senate agriculture committees are putting forward detailed recommendations on the food and farm bill for consideration by the Supercommittee. Take a moment TODAY to call your 2 senators and representative and ask them to show their support for a just food system by co-sponsoring these important bills: 

• The "Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011," which supports economic opportunities for young and beginning farmers and ranchers, AND 
• The "Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act," which develops local and regional farm and food systems from farm to table. 

Find contact information for your representatives: U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate

October 2011

Action Alert! Federal Relief for Local Farms
Our farmers need federal assistance to recover from crop losses and other damage caused by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. The following bills have been introduced and need your support to ensure their passage:
House Bill HR 2905, introduced by Rep. Chris Gibson, waives the requirement that farmers have insurance on all crops in order to access USDA disaster assistance AND House Bill HR 3005, introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko, provides additional funds to the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). (Read more about these bills below!)

Please contact your representative to show your support for this legislation, to encourage them to actively pursue its passage and to request federal relief for our farmers! Find contact information | Send email

Gaining Federal Assistance for Farmers Impacted by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee   
Two bills have been introduced which, if passed, would help support the recovery of local farms:
House Bill HR 2905 would help uninsured farmers in counties impacted by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee access federal disaster funds. Many farmers in the disaster areas do not have crop insurance on their crops, which is required to access USDA disaster assistance programs. This bill would waive that requirement so farmers could apply for federal disaster assistance funds including SURE (vegetable & other farms), ELAP (livestock feed purchases) and TAP (orchard & nursery replanting). Representatives Buerkle, Hanna, Hayworth, Hinchey, Owens, and Tonko are co-sponsors of HR 2905.   

The second bill, House Bill HR 3005, would provide additional funds for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). ECP provides funding for farmers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by wind erosion, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters.  Current applications for assistance through ECP exceed available funds. This bill would make more funding available to farmers seeking assistance to recover from the storms.

Similar bills are proposed in the Senate. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand are working together with their House colleagues to advance legislation in both houses. See our Action Alert to find out how to support these bills!

President Obama's Deficit Reduction Plan Threatens Farmland Conservation Efforts 
President Obama's recently announced deficit reduction plan effects several agricultural programs. Among them are the conservation programs aimed at helping to protect environmentally sensitive land on farmers' properties.  A coalition of groups have called on  President Obama to prioritize and maintain the federal conservation programs currently currently in place.

Focus on the Food and Farm Bill:
Food justice advocates, agri-corporate lobbyists and government officials are gearing up for the next Farm Bill--or what we call the Food & Farm Bill as it's the nation's largest piece of legislation that addresses the food we eat, how much it costs and how it's produced.
This month:Real Farm Bill Stories: Farm School NYC

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011
This act would support aspiring farmers across the nation--a crucial aim as American farmers are aging and retiring rapidly, and beginning farmers and ranchers face tremendous obstacles entering this field. Join the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition in raising support for the act by asking your respresentatives to co-sponsor the bill. Click here for contact information and talking points to get your representatives on board, and make the call!

September 2011

Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Promote CSA
Senator Gillibrand has announced an amendment to the Farm Bill that would aid CSAs through competitive grants offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program would fund grower support programs--ranging from marketing and business assistance, to crop development, to innovative delivery and distribution programs. Preference would be given to projects working with family farms, farms operated by or employing veterans - a provision authored by Senator Gillibrand - and those that expand CSA reach into "food deserts," or low income communities without access to fresh food around the country. Read the press release to learn more.

Focus on the Food and Farm Bill:
Food justice advocates, agri-corporate lobbyists and government officials are gearing up for the next Farm Bill--or what we call the Food & Farm Bill as it the nation's largest piece of legislation that addresses the food we eat, how much it costs and how it's produced.
This month's Food & Farm Bill Resource: Fair Food Fight's Fast Facts on the Debt Deal & What It Means for the Farm Bill

Report Draws Attention to the Economic Impact of Local Food Systems
The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a new report taking a look at over 75 articles to measure the economic benefits that various local and regional food systems have created. The report also highlights challenges that hinder local food systems and includes policy recommendations that might help. See a summary and read the full report here.

August 2011

Action Alert: Support the City Farms Markets! Summer and Fall means that Just Food's City Farms Markets -- a network of community-run markets providing fresh urban grown and regional produce to low-income NYC neighborhoods -- are up and running. All 18 markets are now in full swing, including two new markets this season: the Pomonok Community Farmers' Market at NYCHA housing in Flushing, Queens and the Hattie Carthan After-Church Community Market at the new Herban Farm in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. These markets advance community pride and combat food-related health problems by providing fresh food, food education, cooking demos, and cultural events for their neighborhoods, and make fresh food for all a reality by accepting federal benefits (like EBT/SNAP & WIC) as well as incentives such as the NYC Dept. of Health's Health Bucks and Just Food's Double Dollars. Find a market near you! 

NYC Council Passes Food Legislation
On July 28, the New York City Council passed a package of food and agriculture-related legislation. The bills call for: tracking and reporting on where city-procured food comes from (legislation 0615-2011-A); and a free, searchable database of city-owned land, to make it easier to locate vacant lots that could be transformed into urban agriculture sites (legislation 0248-2010-A). Last month, prior to the vote, Just Food and others mobilized to give testimony on these bills. See details of the meeting, including all testimonies, here (pdf). 

Focus on the Food & Farm Bill
Food justice advocates, agri-corporate lobbyists and government officials are gearing up for the next Farm Bill--or what many advocates argue should be called the Food & Farm Bill, as it's the nation's largest piece of legislation that addresses the food we eat, how much it costs and how it's produced. Just Food will feature a new resource each month to raise awareness and action around the next Farm Bill.
This month: Food & Water Watch's Petition to Congress for a Fair Farm Bill.

Vermont Governor's Anti-Hunger Effort Takes on USDA, Farm Bill
On July 14, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and advocates from across the state launched a campaign to end childhood hunger in Vermont. Governor Shumlin said he will address the need for greater support for states and communities to access food locally by asking the USDA to change their commodities program dictated by the Farm Bill, "so that rather than having to ship in food from the national stockpile, we will get vouchers to purchase local nutritious food. This will allow schools and food programs more control over what they buy, and to support our amazing local farmers, without costing a penny more."

July 2011

Action Alert: Continue the pressure to Stop Fracking in New York! 
With the moratorium that has stopped hydrofracking in New York State expiring last week, it was reported that the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Governor Cuomo are coming out in support of lifting the ban in NY. Reports suggest there could be exceptions of the NYC and Syracuse watersheds, but regardless this could and most likely would lead to detrimental consequences for the health of people, farms and environment around the state. Take a moment to sign the petition, and make a call to Governor Cuomo (518-474-8390) and tell him not to lift the fracking ban!

Just Food Testifies at City Council Hearing on Vacant City Land
On June 16 the New York City Council held a Hearing on two newly-introduced pieces of legislation, both of which came from proposals of the recent FoodWorks report by Council Speaker Quinn. One bill calls for establishing a reporting system on city food system data, including where our city institutions procure their food from. The other bill calls for the creation of a searchable database of city-owned property, which would make it easier for urban growers to locate underutilized city-owned land. Check out Just Food's testimony on this bill, and for a brief overview of the entire Food Works report read Just Food's FoodWorks tip sheet.

Focus on the Food & Farm Bill
Food justice advocates, agri-corporate lobbyists and government officials are gearing up for the next Farm Bill--or what many advocates argue should be called the Food & Farm Bill as it the nation's largest piece of legislation that addresses the food we eat, how much it costs and how its produced. Just Food will feature a new resource each month to raise awareness and action around the next Farm Bill. This month: Top 10Things You Should Know About the Farm Bill.

LA Becomes First Big School District to Ban Chocolate Milk
In June, Los Angeles Unified School District voted on a new dairy contract that removes flavored milk from school menus. The district also banned sodas and chicken nuggets recently in its battle against childhood obesity.

June 2011

Emergency Food Providers Face Major Cuts
With 13.7 million Americans unemployed as of April 2011, the number of those needing homeless shelters and food pantries has rapidly increased. Yet Congress decided to slash 40% of funding in the 2011 federal budget - and plans another cut in 2012 -  for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program of FEMA. How will these cuts impact New York City's soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters and the growing number of people in need of them? Read more from the President of the United Way of New York City, the local administrator of the EFS Program.

One-Third of World's Food Goes to Waste
While the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 925 million people suffered from hunger globally last year, their new study finds that one-third, or 1.3 billion tons, of food is lost or wasted each year.

From Food Pyramid to Plate: How Does the US Compare to Other Countries?
On June 2, the USDA announced it was replacing the food pyramid - the often criticized graphic created to show Americans what they should aim towards in eating healthy and well-portioned meals. How does the USDA's new food plate stack up with those from other countries around the world? Lighthearted Locavore takes us on 'food plate' tour.

Help Stop Fracking in New York
Last month we reported that a New York State moratorium soon ends that has temporarily banned the practice of hydraulic fracturing. This process, commonly called "fracking," uses chemicals, water and sand to break open shale rock to extract natural gas. Fracking depletes water supply and uses toxic chemicals that can contaminate land and water, posing a great threat to our drinking and farming water, and thus our physical, economic and environmental well-being.

Food & Water Watch is mobilizing New Yorkers to urge the state assembly to pass two important bills before June 20th, when the current legislative session ends. The first bill would prohibit any new fracking permits from being issued over the next year, and the second closes a dangerous loophole that allows toxic fracking wastewater to be "treated" at local wastewater treatment facilities. Click here to read more about the bills and to take action!

May 2011

PlaNYC Now Includes Food & Agriculture!
On April 21, NYC Mayor Bloomberg unveiled the updated version of PlaNYC, the major sustainability plan for the City's future. First introduced  in 2007, PlaNYC provides city officials with specific targets in the areas of land, water, transportation, energy, air and climate change. Targets implemented collectively aim to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, while improving infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population.

When the Plan was first created nearly five years ago, it did not include any targets on food and agriculture. Through the process to update the Plan over the past year, the Mayor's Office held a series of community and issue-based meetings, which included much input on incorporating food issues into the revised Plan.

If you can't read through the new 202-page Plan, check out  Just Food's brand new Summary of Food and Agriculture in PlaNYC.

How Much Food Do NYC Community Gardens Grow?
That's what Farming Concrete is working to find out. Its 2010 Harvest Report included the participation of 110 community gardeners from 67 community gardens, who weighed their harvests and reported their crop inventory. Find out how much they grew last season and about efforts to collect harvest data this year.

US Government Cuts Budget At Expense of Food, Agriculture, Health, Environment Programs
In April, the US Congress avoided a government shutdown and agreed on a final budget that slashes programs that protect the environment, increase economic opportunity, serve beginning farmers, and ensure proper nutrition for low-income woman and children. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will lose 16% of its federal funding, while the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will lose $500 million and community health centers will be cut by $600 million. Also included in the cuts were several Farm Bill conservation programs. Read more about these cuts and more in the summary by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).    

USDA Reports Successes of Regional Food Hubs
In April the USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan released findings from a national study on regional food hubs. "Food hubs" help support small- and medium-scale farms to aggregate, distribute and market their products and thus deliver more local food to the region, which is crucial in supporting and building sustainable regional food and farm systems. Read the preliminary findings here.  
 
Rising Food Prices Linked to Fossil-Fuel Dependent Forms of Agriculture
Last month we featured a new report by the United Nations
asserting small-scale, sustainable agriculture is necessary to address global hunger, poverty and climate change. On April 14, the World Bank reported that world food prices are 36% above levels of one year ago, driven partly by rising fuel costs, and has pushed 44 million people into poverty since last June. The evidence for stronger local, sustainable food systems keeps building.

April 2011

Proposed Federal Budget Cuts Threaten GreenThumb
The US House of Representatives'  2012 budget calls for the elimination of funding for the CDBG program for the remainder of FY 2011, and a 60% slash to overall CDBG funding - that could translate to the elimination of GreenThumb, or at least a devastating 60% cut to its funding! Contact your Representatives in the House and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand on behalf of NYC community gardens! Tell them GreenThumb is an important CDBG funded program; vital to your garden and your community.

US House Proposes Cutting Support to Low-Income Mothers, Farmers, & Farmers Markets
The Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) assists low-income mothers (through WIC) and seniors to access fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, while bringing added income to farmers and farmers markets. In New York State, contingent on funding in 2011, FMNPs checks will provide approximately $3.8 million to 975 local farmers participating in the FMNP at 450 community farmers markets.

Funding for Senior FMNP is delineated in the Farm Bill and is secure for 2011. However, the WIC FMNP receives an annual appropriation and due to the operation on continuing resolutions, is currently funded at 39 percent of last year's level.  Unless additional funds are made available, New York State farmers stand to lose $2,204,945 in sales of fresh produce to WIC moms and kids.

Take action to save WIC FMNP funding TODAY!
(1) Contact your Representative and tell them that the WIC FMNP program is too important to cut, as it increases access to fresh fruits and vegetables to low-income mothers and kids, and much needed income for small-scale farmers and community farmers markets.
(2) Also call the agriculture staff of NY Senators and urge them to push House Agriculture leadership--Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK) and ranking minority leader Collin Peterson (D-MN) to keep WIC FMNP funded. 

•     Senator Gillibrand:  Jenna Smith or Catherine Tanner at 202-224-6371
•     Senator Schumer: Anne Filala at 202-224-6542

Another Report Finds Eco-Farming To Solve Hunger
In last July's Just Food for Thought, we reported that Olivier de Schutter, the UN right to food expert, contended that small scale sustainable agriculture can yield some 80% more food than 'conventional' farming, stating "With more than a billion hungry people on the planet, and the climate disruptions ahead of us, we must rapidly scale up these sustainable techniques." This March, de Schutter released a new report that demonstrates that agroecology, if sufficiently supported, can double food production in entire regions within 10 years while mitigating climate change and alleviating rural poverty.

Update from Japan Farmers
How has the recent earthquake, tsunami and aftermath affected Japanese farmers? A representative from the Japan Family Farmers Movement is interviewed for a NY Times article that reports the impact government bans on sale of farm products has had on tens of thousands of small-scale farmers in a Japanese town.

September 2010

Launch of the US Food Sovereignty Alliance
Emerging out of the US Working Group on the Food Crisis, the US Food Sovereignty Alliance is the first food sovereignty coalition in the history of the United States. To celebrate the launch of the Alliance, people fighting for food justice and sovereignty are encouraged to take actions during the week of October 10-17.

The Incredible or Inedible Egg?
Half a billion eggs were recently recalled due to salmonella poisoning, shedding fresh light on the cruelty and food safety perils of factory animal farming. Check out Slow Food USA's new video Inedible Egg, take action to make our food edible, and get involved in NYC at the City Chicken Meetup.

Town Hall Meeting on Community Gardens
Join the NYC Community Garden Coalition on October 2nd at the New School for a Town Hall Meeting on the newly released rules on community garden permanence, as well as strategizing to look above and beyond the new rules. Space is limited! Reserve your spot today!

Farmland at Risk in Every State
The USDA reports that the United States loses more than an acre of farmland every minute. The American Farmland Trust asserts that up to nearly one million acres of farmland per year are converted to highways, shopping malls and poorly planned development.

Eating Our Vegetables?
The New York Times reports that a new behavioral study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds only 26% of US adults eat vegetables three or more times a day, the same percentage from 10 years ago.

August 2010

Senate passes Child Nutrition Bill
The US Senate has passed a $4.5 billion Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill before its August recess, building momentum for the House to pass its version in September, with just two weeks before the bill expired. Outrageously though, to pay for the child nutrition bill the Senate cut $2.2 Billion from food stamps. Find out more at NYC Alliance on CNR.

NYC passes major recycling legislation
On August 16, Mayor Bloomberg signed a major package of recycling bills that expands plastic recycling, creates a new clothing and textile recycling program, improves public space recycling and more. While the legislation did not advance comprehensive food waste policy, one bill requires a report by July 2012  "recommending methods to expand the diversion of compostable waste from the city's waste stream."

People's Gardens sprouting city-by-city
Have you signed the petition for a vegetable garden at New York City Hall? Check out other cities that have created thriving People's Gardens, and help make NYC next!

Farmers markets growing around the country
According to the USDA, there are now 6,132 farmers markets in the US, up 16% from last year and a whopping 214% increase since 2000! Have you been to a City Farms Market this season?

Coca-cola's defense of vitaminwater
A public interest group has sued Coca-Cola on the grounds that vitaminwater claims untrue health benefits. Coca-Cola's response? "No consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage."

"I'm pro goat and I vote!"
That campaign slogan and efforts by advocates in Seattle helped that city legalize goatkeeping in 2007. Find out which other cities have legalized goats as pets or for urban dairy farming (ahem...NYC not on the list).

July 2010

Parks policy change threatens community gardens!
The proposed rule change to the expiring 2002 agreement does not provide community gardens with the same protections as ten years ago. A public hearing about the proposed rule will be held on August 10th at 11am at 430 West 25th Street. All community gardeners and their supporters need to be at this hearing! Bring your fellow gardeners, bring your City Council member, bring banners & signs! Go to the NYC Community Garden Coalition for more information about the proposed rule, the public hearing and other ways to take action.

Food and climate change connections
Just Food joins some 75 organizations in signing the letter delivered to Senate leadership last week calling for climate change legislation to include sustainable farming as a greenhouse gas reduction strategy. Check out the a great new educational video on food and climate change by our friends at WhyHunger. And look out for ways to get involved in the NYC Food & Climate Campaign, coming in September!


Gender discrimination in our food chain
In what NYC industry do women make 21.8% lower earnings than their male counterparts with the same qualifications? A new report finds gender and racial discrimination in NYC's restaurant industry.



Child Nutrition Reauthorization is moving!
Help ensure the CNR legislation, also known as the "Improving Nutrition For America's Children Act," is fully funded and is brought to the House floor for a vote immediately. To take immediate action or to find out more, go to the NYC Alliance on CNR.

UN Food expert argues for agro-ecology
Backed by a recent study and contrasting the "Green Revolution" strategy to address hunger, UN right to food expert contends small scale sustainable agriculture can yield some 80% more food than 'conventional' farming, stating "With more than a billion hungry people on the planet, and the climate disruptions ahead of us, we must rapidly scale up these sustainable techniques."

First ever ban on fast-food toys?
Santa Clara County in California recently passed an ordinance banning restaurants from giving away toys in kids meals that exceed set levels for calories, salt and sugar.