JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT

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

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.