NY S08868

Establishes the New York State Food Security Purchase and Processing Program, requiring the Department of Agriculture and Markets to purchase food grown or raised by New York farmers and processed within the state for distribution to food-insecure communities

Appropriates $30 million from the general fund, with at least 90% required to be spent on food that is both grown/raised and processed within New York State

Prioritizes contracts with small to mid-sized farms, BIPOC producers, immigrant farmers, beginning farmers, and historically underserved food producers and processors

Authorizes distribution through food banks, emergency food relief organizations, nonprofit food distributors, tribal governments, and local municipalities approved by the department

Requires annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature by March 1st on expenditures, food quantities purchased, geographic distribution, producer demographics, and program impact on food insecurity