Hinchey bill to create farm product listing becomes law
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. » A bill pushed by a Saugerties state senator authorizing an agency to track products offered by farms has been signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Hinchey, D-Saugerties, announced that the bill authorizes the state Agriculture and Markets to develop and maintain a public online directory of farm businesses and their products.
Hinchey represents the 46th Senate District.
In a press release, Hinchey’s office said the legislation, passed unanimously by the legislature in 2021, aims to increase farmer profitability while expanding access to fresh local food for New Yorkers.
“We are witnessing a resurgence of the local food movement — a time when locally grown, harvested, and produced food has never been more valued and appreciated in New York State and across our nation,” Hinchey said in the release. “If there was ever a more opportune moment to connect the dots between farmer and consumer — it’s now.” “My bill to create a centralized online directory of New York farms and their products will make it easier for families, schools, restaurants, and other key consumer stakeholders to buy New York-grown food directly from local producers, Hinchey added.
Jeff Williams, public policy director of the New York Farm Bureau, felt similarly.
“Customers across the board, from individual consumers and restaurants to schools and large institutions, are eager to purchase New York grown and produced food,” Williams said in the release. “This was especially evident during the early days of the pandemic when national supply chains were disrupted. The legislation Gov. Hochul signed into law will establish a database, opening the door wider for farms and food processors to connect with new customers.”