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The Farm Bill that Wasn't

Submitted by caitlin on Wed, 02/06/2013 - 11:29

by Ed Yowell

photo source: policymic.com

 

For a lot of folks, 2012 was not much of a year.  New York City and environs suffered Hurricane Sandy, which may have convinced a few more of us about climate change and certainly demonstrated to all of us the fragility of our local food distribution systems.  Farmers and ranchers suffered the worst drought in more than half a century and devastating frosts.  They also suffered the 112th Congress, that, for the first time in the 75 year history of the Food and Farm Bill, failed to renew it, letting the 2008 bill lapse in September, 2012.  The 112th Congress, according to the Washington Post, was the least productive in more than 60 years and, according to the Huffington Post , “ended 2012 with a 15 percent average approval rating -- its lowest in history (and) began 2013 with a 14 percent approval rating.”  The Huffington Post continued, “...Public Policy Polling found that Congress was less liked than genocidal warlord Genghis Khan (and) cockroaches…” 

Fracking Update: Urgent action needed in NY now; farming-fracking linkage goes national

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 16:38

photo: Drilling rig in North Dakota, source: thenation.com

 

The grassroots movement to protect NY from the threats of fracking has recently slowed the state’s decision-making apparatus again but only for what may be a very short time.  From December 12 to January 11 everyone has the opportunity to comment on the administration’s fracking regulations.  Click here for the critical information on how to proceed immediately. 

 

Artisanal Brooklyn: Supporting the Local Food Entrepreneur

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 16:37

by Amanda Berhaupt-Glickstein

photo: rendering of 3rd Ward Food Incubator, source: Observer.com

 

A common challenge among small businesses, and particularly artisanal food entrepreneurs, “is a lack of distribution infrastructure and services” (1), which can limit their growth. Creative professionals, food artisans and investment companies have identified entrepreneurial needs and are successfully addressing challenges faced by budding businesses. In particular, venues geared towards small food producers have opened and allowed businesses to increase production, meet growing demand, and plunge into larger markets (1). As part of the borough series about the food movement within New York City, we explored Brooklyn, NY for supporters of local artisanal food production.

 

Op-Ed: Hurricane Sandy and the 'Deserving' Poor

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 12/14/2012 - 14:13

by Bill Ayres, WhyHunger Co-Founder and Executive Director

 

Bill Ayres is the executive director and co-founder of WhyHunger, a global leader in the movement to end hunger and poverty, who has worked for over twenty five years to develop and implement meaningful and innovative programs in the areas of hunger and social services. Bill has been a broadcaster on commercial radio and TV for the past forty years and currently hosts two weekly Sunday night radio shows on WPLJ 95.5FM in New York and serves on the board of Long Island Cares and an Advisory Leadership Committee member of Food Systems Network NYC.

 

This Op-Ed originally appeared in WhyHunger's e-newsletter.

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: City Harvest

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 12:07

City Harvest is working hard to get food to those in need in the wake of Hurricane Sandy as well as continuing their work rescuing and delivering food in all five boroughs. Their Hurricane Sandy Updates webpage highlights their impressive efforts, including partnering with FEMA to distribute pallets of yogurt, bananas, and coconut water to those most affected and running daily volunteer opportunities where large food donations are “repacked” into individual bags for distribution sites.

A Tale of Two Storms: Fragility and Resilience in the Food Supply of New York

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 11:53

by Thomas Forster

photo: Farmland damaged by Hurricane Irene, 2011; photo source: inhabit[dot]com

In the wake of severe weather events that struck New York City and the region around it from tropical storm Irene in August 2011, and just now from hurricane Sandy in 2012, impacts to food production, distribution and access are enormous. What lessons are there to learn for a more secure food and nutrition supply going forward?  This is only a first effort and you are invited to add your reflections in what should be an ongoing discussion about “climate smart agriculture for New York.

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 11:52

photo: Meal at Gowanus Houses Community Relief Hub

photo source: Housing is a Human Right

 

At Food Systems Network NYC, we have been incredibly moved by the immense numbers of generous efforts by New Yorkers to come together post-Hurricane Sandy and offer relief and much-needed community as neighborhoods recover and rebuild.

We invited a few folks to spotlight their experiences. Read about their efforts at the links below.

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: Greenmarket

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: New Amsterdam Market

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: The Restaurant Community

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: Occupy Sandy Relief NYC

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: City Harvest


Have a Hurricane Sandy relief effort story to share? Email the spotlight on your experience to info@foodsystemsnyc.org.

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: The Restaurant Community

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 11:40

photo source: Edible Manhattan

 

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: Occupy Sandy Relief NYC

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 11:30

by Rebecca Manski, OWS PR

Spotlight on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: New Amsterdam Market

Submitted by caitlin on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 11:21

Last Sunday, November 4, New Amsterdam Market held a Volunteer Day to help the Seaport neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Many small businesses in the area as well as the South Street Seaport Museum's letterpress print shop Bowne & Co. and the New Amsterdam Market office on Front Street were affected by the storm. A 13 ft. storm surge resulted in 7 ft.

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