Purchase and distribute local food targeting purchases from socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers

The new york state department of agriculture and markets will implement the new york food for new york families program to create a more resilient statewide food system that supports local farms and provides high quality, nutritious food to communities facing food insecurity. A competitive process will award funds to eligible applicants with experience in food procurement and distribution for the purpose of procuring local, domestic product and distributing IT to underserved communities. Successful applicants will use 67% of funds to purchase food directly from new york state producers, with an emphasis on developing and expanding relationships with socially disadvantaged producers. Additional funds may be used for program development that supports farm production capacity, creates or expands food distribution services, and/or improves food access. A second pool of funding will be awarded through a non-competitive application process to eligible applicants for similar projects supporting local farm and food system development, purchasing of local, domestic farm products and delivery of products to underserved communities. Quarterly performance reports will be submitted to capture the number of producers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, distribution sites, and underserved locations as well as funds expended for each category. Annual reports will provide percentages of new marketing opportunities and purchases distributed beyond current food distribution networks. Purchase local, domestic agricultural products from new york producers, with an emphasis on purchasing from socially disadvantaged producers, to create new market opportunities. Create new, or expand existing, models of food distribution that target underserved populations who cannot sufficiently access food through traditional food assistance and distribution networks. This program will benefit new york state producers and processors of agricultural products through direct purchasing. Additionally, socially disadvantaged producers will benefit from technical support services to increase capacity to grow and sell into new markets. IT is expected that 2,000 producers and processors will benefit from the new york food for new york families program. The recipient plans to subaward funds to vendors and producers. In fiscal year 2023, agreement was amended with local food purchase assistance plus funding to increase the budget with funds authorized by the commodity credit corporation, and to increase the duration of the period of performance.