Velázquez, Food Policy Experts, Advocates, Producers & Co-Ops Gather to Discuss Food Insecurity and Sustainable Practices

Brooklyn, N.Y.—Yesterday at the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) joined representatives from the Mayor's Office of Food Policy, the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, local food pantries, food producers, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs to discuss solutions to the food insecurity crisis facing over one million New Yorkers. The event was also to collect feedback to share with the Biden Administration in preparation for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health this September.

"When we talk about access to food, how it is produced and consumed, we touch on a wide range of topics such as: income inequality; the environment; education; and public health," said Velázquez. "The pandemic exacerbated the crisis of food insecurity facing New Yorkers, making clear the need for bolder local and federal partnerships and support."

Velázquez has introduced several pieces of legislation on this issue including the Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Program Act and Public School Green Rooftop Program. She is also a co-sponsor of legislation to increase access to food assistance, the Closing the Meal Gap Act.

"As we look towards the White House Conference in September, these opportunities for engagement between our elected officials, policy experts, and advocates are critical to ensuring a successful, equitable process and path forward," said Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Food Policy. "Thank you to Congresswoman Velázquez for hosting yesterday's forum, and for her strong advocacy for federal programs that support the expansion of access to healthy, plant-based foods."

Speakers and participants from this event included: Jim Barber, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Lindsay Greene, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, Kate MacKenzie, Mayor's Office of Food Policy, Keith Carr, City Harvest, Mike Servello, Compassion Coalition, Bargain Grocery, Elinoar Astrinsky, Park Slope Food Coop, Tiana Rainford, East New York Farms, Anastasia Cole Plakias, Brooklyn Grange, and Michael Hurwitz, Urbane and Landing Lights Strategies Community based groups from Sunset Park, Red Hook to Williamsburg, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, Queens, and Lower East Side, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, City Councilman Lincoln Restler, Bargain Grocery/Compassion Coalition; Dutch Kills Loop/Smiling Hogshead Ranch; Urbane; City Grotto; Arab-American Family Support Center; El Puente; Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services (BACDYS); Sustainable United Neighborhoods; Western Queens Food Co-op; North Brooklyn Angels; Coalition for Hispanic Family Services; LaGuardia Community College, The City University of New York; North Brooklyn Angels; Southside United HDFC- Los Sures; UA3,Inc.; Park Slope Food Coop; Brooklyn Grange; Dance Atlantic Inc.; East New York Farms; Cypress Hills East New York Coalition Inc.; Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation; EAST NEW YORK COMMUNITY LAND TRUST; NY Sun Works; RiseBoro Community Partnership; Red Hook Relief/Red Hook Mutual Aid; Red Hook Farms; Evangel Church Food Pantry/9 million reasons; Academy of Medical & Public Health Services; Center for Family Life in Sunset Park; Casa de las Américas; Urban Sustainability Studies, Brooklyn College/CUNY; Vision Urbana, Inc.; Broadway stages; Brooklyn College; Cornell cooperative extension; and students from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, the land grant university.