Blog / NYS
-
NYS Food Policy Report
FOOD POLICY COUNCIL ISSUES REPORT TO GOVERNOR PATERSON
Report Offers Food Policy Recommendations, Outlines Council’s Activities
The New York State Council on Food Policy today issued its annual report to Governor David A. Paterson. The report, required by Executive Order #13, includes a summary of the Council’s activities over the past year, as well as its recommendations on food policy for 2009 and proposed steps needed to implement the recommendations.
Over the past year, the Council held seven listening sessions around the State, gathering public testimony on the following four priority food policy areas.
· Maximizing participation in food and nutrition assistance programs;
· Strengthening the connection between local food products and consumers;
· Supporting efficient and profitable agricultural food production and food retail infrastructure and;
· Increasing consumer awareness and knowledge about healthy eating; and improving consumer access to safe and nutritious food.An overarching recommendation involves the creation of publicly available inventories of available food, nutrition and agricultural services in New York State. This data will serve as a foundation upon which to build targeted food policy recommendations.
For a copy of the Council on Food Policy’s annual report and all of its recommendations, please visit www.nyscfp.org and click on “Report to Governor”.
The New York State Council on Food Policy was created in 2007 with the recognition that in New York State, agriculture is a critically important industry; that hunger is a serious problem facing many families; that access to affordable, fresh and nutritious food is a serious problem, especially affecting children; and that there are significant environmental, health and economic benefits to the State and its residents from expanding agricultural production. At no time in recent history are these matters more prevalent in society than present.
To learn more about the Council on Food Policy, visit http://www.nyscfp.org or contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-485-7728.
-
Justice for Farmworkers
Justice for Farmworkers
Since the 1930s New York's farmworkers have been excluded from the same rights and protections that most other workers take for granted, including a day of rest per week, overtime pay, disability insurance, and the right to bargain collectively with their employers. The Justice for Farmworkers Campaign brings together a remarkable coalition of faith communities, students and labor to stand with farmworkers in an effort to gain equality under New York State labor law.
New York farm workers deserve equality
Only recently have farmworkers been granted the right to clean drinking water in the fields, sanitation facilities, and the right to the same minimum wage as other workers, but the exclusions still remain. The Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act (S.3884/A.7528), a bill currently in the NY State Legislature, would remove these exclusions and grant farmworkers the dignity and equality they deserve.
Join us in the struggle for equal rights!
For more information email farmworkerjustice@gmail.com
Summary of the exclusion of farmworkers from New York labor laws
Business/Industry Farmworkers Collective Bargaining Workers protected when bargaining collectively No protection Child Labor Youth minimum age Lower minimum age Child Labor Restriction Restriction on children's hours, ages and hazardous work Fewer restrictions Overtime pay Overtime pay No overtime pay Unemployment Insurance $300 payroll threshold for employers $20,000 payroll threshold for employers Disability Insurance Required Not required Day of rest Mandatory day of rest No day of rest Sanitation Toilet required even if just one employee Toilet required only if more than 5 workers Health and safety Work sites must be arranged and operated safely Generally not covered by state and occupational health and safety laws Safety training Annual worker safety education required Safety education not required, except for pesticides Heat stress Shorted work periods, areas for cooling down No requirements when exposed to extreme heat Pesticides Routine monitoring of workers' exposure No monitoring Living Building and lodging codes New York Health code permits latrines. Inspections are only conducted at camps with 5 or more workers.