About & History
The Food Systems Network NYC is a collaborative, action-oriented membership body whose mission is to promote food systems that:
• Support improved nutrition and public health
• Increase access by all to safe and wholesome food
• Strengthen and expand the regional farm and food economy
Our group is composed primarily of not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, professionals, and food advocates with expertise in nutrition, hunger, health, local food, and agriculture. Our activities focus on collaboration, education, and advocacy. FSNYC was founded in 2004 through the efforts of the New York City Nutrition Education Network and the Council on the Environment of New York City (fiscal agent for FSNYC) to complement the emerging food policy council movement.
Our organization was established primarily to address the gaps and imbalances in the food systems serving New York City. These gaps and imbalances negatively affect the nutrition and health of New York City residents and the strength of our regional food and farm economy, and they require a coordinated response to achieve significant improvement. The food needs of the city’s most vulnerable populations – working poor, children, elderly, and homeless – are addressed by many city and state agencies and not-for-profit organizations that often work independently.
Food Systems Network NYC helps to meet the need for coordination and collaboration by regularly bringing together diverse players in the broader food system such as farmers and other food producers, nutrition and health administrators and educators, agriculture officials and farmers’ market program managers, school food service executives, anti-hunger program directors, community-based organization heads, and policy analysts engaged in advising elected officials.
Our members convene monthly at Open Networking meetings that are designed to: foster collaboration through information sharing and mutual education regarding critical food policy issues; inform members of relevant public hearings and other events; and promote opportunities for individuals to partner on specific projects.
In addition, FSNYC undertakes projects conceived to benefit both Network members and the general public — projects that encourage collaboration, resource sharing, and education. These projects include the development of the FSNYC website, a public forum on food and farming policy for New York City, and others.
Member Accomplishments
• Created a network of Community Supported Agriculture projects across 5 boroughs
• Established food access mapping technology & tool to identify gaps in the availability of healthful food in at-risk communities
• Created youth-development programs focusing on local agriculture
• Helped establish farmers’ markets in at-risk communities across the city
• Provided the City Council with proven strategies to increase and streamline food stamp access to eligible populations.
• Implemented nutrition education in-school-time and after school across 5 boroughs
• Collaborated in development of School Wellness Councils in DOHMH priority areas
• Provided testimony to DOH/MH hearings in support of the Board of Health’s proposal to phase out use of trans fats by NYC food service operations
• Established curriculum for and trained community members to conduct interactive nutrition/culinary demonstrations in the South Bronx & Brooklyn farmers’ markets
• Addressed food security by establishing a free produce market in Bronx CB1
• Developed successful Bodega Campaigns for healthier food options
• Established Electronic Benefit Transfer wireless terminals in farmers markets to make farm fresh food accessible to Food Stamp recipients
• Assembled a Food Co-Op development team to establish the first food co-op in the South Bronx.
Collectively, as Food Systems Network NYC, we have also accomplished the following:
• Co-sponsors of "A New York City Food Policy Forum: Fresh Ideas on Farms & Food" at the New School with FarmAid and Eugene Lange College.
• Facilitated numerous collaborations among members who have in turn expanded their work and found new audiences.