The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Department of Health provided additional details on the distribution of the $25 million Nourish New York initiative, as announced by Governor Cuomo. Funding will be allocated regionally and based on need, from the State’s special public health emergency fund, for food banks and emergency food providers across the state. The Nourish New York initiative, launched by the Governor on Monday, is working to quickly reroute New York’s surplus agricultural products to the populations who need them most through New York’s network of food banks.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Nourish New York will be a lifeline for our families and our farmers who have been struggling with changes brought on by COVID-19. The agricultural industry has continued to give back to New York communities during this time; however, they have seen devastating losses financially as a result of lost markets, such as schools and restaurants. I am grateful to the Governor and to the entire Nourish New York team for launching this critical program that will help people who are food insecure to access the nourishment that they need while providing much-needed relief for our farmers.”
State Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said, “During this pandemic response, we continue to come together as a statewide community, first to mobilize and expand our healthcare sector and now to help meet struggling New Yorkers’ nutritional needs. Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s $25 million Nourish initiative, we will leverage the state’s robust agricultural sector to ensure that food is distributed throughout the state to those in need.”
Through Nourish New York, the State is providing funding to New York food banks so they can purchase excess products, such as fruits and vegetables, from New York farmers and surplus dairy products from New York dairy manufacturers, to distribute directly to communities. Food banks are expected to receive funding and begin purchasing this week. Emergency food providers can spend the money allocated to them by doing any of the following:
- Setting up food-drive through events/giveaways (guidance available here);
- Distributing dairy vouchers that can be redeemed in grocery stores for products like cheese, yogurt, milk, sour cream, and butter, throughout the state, and/or;
- Purchasing products directly from New York dairy/food manufacturers for their feeding programs.
The majority of the funding will be used to purchase dairy products. Food banks and other emergency food providers will work with New York’s dairy processing partners—Cabot Cheese, Chobani, Dairy Farmers of America, HP Hood, Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc., and others—to purchase pre-packaged, consumer-ready products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, and cream cheese. The dairy cooperatives will use excess New York State milk to produce these products and are prepared to increase production to meet the rising demand. A dedicated portion of this award will be focused on the purchase of kosher items.
Funding distribution is as follows:
- New York City Region: $10,997,554
- Westchester Region: $985,605
- Long Island Region: $1,587,313
- Capital/Hudson Valley Region (includes portion of North Country and Mohawk Valley): $4,357,115
- Central NY Region (includes portion of North Country and Mohawk Valley): $2,202,404
- Southern Tier Region: $1,054,327
- Western New York Region: $2,129,463
- Finger Lakes Region (includes portion of Southern Tier): $1,686,218
A map of the food bank coverage areas is here. The complete list of food banks and emergency food providers receiving funding is here. In addition, New York State will launch a web page dedicated to the Nourish New York initiative that help connect food banks to the surplus agricultural products across the State.
The State is also asking any philanthropies that would like to help the State's food banks to contact Fran Barrett, Director of Non-Profits at COVIDPhilanthropies@exec.ny.gov.
Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said, “During this unprecedented crisis, New Yorkers continue to come together to help those most in need and Nourish New York is the latest example of this. Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, Nourish New York will help alleviate hunger for countless families and also bolster farmers throughout the state who stand ready to deliver in the ongoing response to COVID-19.”
State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Mike Hein said, “Food banks and emergency food providers have long played an important role in our efforts to ensure New Yorkers are able to feed themselves and their families and their importance has only been magnified during this unprecedented crisis. The Nourish New York Initiative will provide much-needed resources that will enable excess products from New York farmers to easily make their way to families and individuals in need. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for acting quickly to launch this effort that benefits our farmers and those struggling to afford food.”
