Today is call in day to support “FoodprintNYC,” a citywide initiative that would establish climate-friendly food policies and programs, financial and technical support, a public awareness campaign regarding the City’s food consumption and production patterns and greater access to local, fresh, healthy food in low income communities.
Currently, an estimated 3 million New Yorkers live in “high-need neighborhoods,” defined by a lack of supermarkets and a prevalence of diet-related health problems. These areas lack food security, meaning that people who live in them have difficulty getting “nutritious and affordable food.” An estimated 750,000 city residents live in “food deserts” — areas more than five blocks from a supermarket. Often food deserts are located in low-income and minority communities with a prevalence of diet-related disease, such as obesity and diabetes.
[Scott Stringer's full report: "Food in the Public Interest," (PDF)]
If you live in New York City, please consider taking a moment to visit their website, learn about the initiative and call your council rep and either urge them to support the resolution or thank them for their support.
Other major cities are working in this direction. San Fransciso recently announced a comprehensive city-wide, regional food policy and we are working on something similar in Los Angeles (Close readers will note that these three cities are very close to me, each one having once been “home.” Coincidence?).
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