Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced that a bill he helped pass in the State Assembly to strengthen New York’s food supply in the wake of COVID-19 has been signed into law (Ch. 316 of 2020).

Due to the disruptions to the food supply chain in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, sadly farmers across the country were forced to destroy fresh food that they could no longer sell, even as some Americans went hungry.[1] To address these disruptions in the food supply chain, the new law Santabarbara helped get passed as a member of the State Assembly’s Agriculture Committee will gather expert advice, guidance and recommendations on the state’s food supply and related supply chain logistics in the wake of COVID-19. Representatives from a variety of fields will provide input to the commissioners of Agriculture and Markets and Economic Development to ensure New York has an adequate food supply in place that benefits farms, food businesses, consumers, workers and families in need.

“These past months have been incredibly difficult for everyone, including New York’s hardworking farmers,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “Despite the inequities they face, New York is still a leading agricultural state in a range of commodities, including dairy, apples, maple syrup, and wine. Family farms have been able to provide us with a safe and affordable food supply during COVID19 and it’s unacceptable that so much food has gone to waste while many families are struggling to put a meal on the table because of inadequate supply chains,” Santabarbara said. “This legislation will not only benefit our farms and the many families in need across the state, it will also help us better prepare for future emergencies.”

“Rural communities serve an essential role in providing the natural resources we all depend on not only for food, but also energy, water, and recreation,” Santabarbara added as State Assembly Chair of the Commission on Rural Resources. “During these unprecedented times, we must continue to provide important resources to help rural communities to rebuild their economies and to continue to battle COVID-19.”

[1] nytimes.com/2020/05/02/business/coronavirus-food-waste-destroyed.html