The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets today announced the launch of the newly revamped Nourish New York portal to better connect New York’s food organizations to New York farmers. This comes as the program, which was launched as an emergency relief program during the pandemic, celebrates being codified in New York State law for nearly five years. The new portal offers improved user interface, including the ability to create a business profile, enhanced search tools, and expanded product descriptions, making it even easier for farmers and food organizations to list and search for New York products.
Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The Nourish NY program was created to serve as a critical pipeline getting food from our farms to people in need during the pandemic through our network of emergency food providers. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the program being codified in state law, there’s no better way to celebrate its impact than by launching a new portal that will make it even easier to get fresh, delicious New York food on tables across the state. This initiative is a no brainer, providing meals to families in need across the state while ensuring our farmers right here in New York remain our first and best customers.”
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, "Thanks to Governor Hochul’s leadership, Nourish New York continues to be a transformative investment in the health and well-being of New Yorkers. This program not only puts fresh, nutritious food on the tables of families in need, but also supports the farmers who are the backbone of our state’s food supply. We are proud to support an initiative that delivers measurable impact and strengthens communities across New York."
The Nourish New York initiative provides funding directly to the state's emergency food providers to help them directly buy products from the state's farmers and producers and distribute them to New York consumers who need them most. The program, which was launched in May 2020 as an emergency relief program during the COVID-19 pandemic, was permanently codified into state law in November 2021. Since the program’s launch in May 2020, nearly $340 million has been committed to Nourish New York. Through this multi-agency effort, New York's food banks have purchased over 174 million pounds of New York food products, which equates to over 145 million meals distributed to families in need.
Source : ny.gov