New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill to strengthen the state’s food supply chain. A state senator from the Hudson Valley sponsored the measure.
Democratic state Senator Jen Metzger says the COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in regional food systems, and the effort prompted by her bill will identify solutions to issues posed by the pandemic. Metzger says it’s important to reduce the state’s vulnerability to disruptions in national supply chains while supporting local farms and food businesses and becoming more self-reliant. Pursuant to a chapter amendment that will need to be passed when session reconvenes, the Commissioners of Agriculture and Markets along with Economic Development, will work with Cornell, the state’s land grant university, to issue a report by December 1, next year. Southern Tier Democrat Donna Lupardo sponsored the bill in the Assembly.
