STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2701
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2013
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Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, LIFTON, LUPARDO, P. LOPEZ -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law and the economic devel-
opment law, in relation to creating the strategic farm and food prod-
uct development coordinating council
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 16 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
3 6-a. (a) Establish, in cooperation with the commissioner of economic
4 development, a strategic farm and food product development coordinating
5 council consisting of representatives of farmers, processors, whole-
6 salers and distributors, retailers including retail food stores and food
7 service businesses, academic experts and others to identify farm and
8 food products that:
9 (i) are, or have the potential to be, in demand by a significant
10 portion of the consumer market; and
11 (ii) have the potential for increased production by, and significant
12 economic benefit to, New York agricultural producers.
13 (b) Such council shall also seek to promote beneficial relationships
14 among farmers, processors, wholesalers, distributors, and state institu-
15 tional entities including, but not limited to schools, daycare facili-
16 ties, and prisons. The council shall identify barriers to trade and
17 suggest possible solutions.
18 (c) Such council shall also identify resources, including, but not
19 limited to, state and federal financial assistance and technical assist-
20 ance from government, academia and private organizations available to
21 support increased production, marketing, and distribution of such foods
22 and beverages. The department and the department of economic development
23 shall make such information available to interested producers and mark-
24 eters of such products. The commissioner shall enlist the assistance of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04825-01-3
A. 2701 2
1 other agencies as needed to identify resources and technical assistance
2 necessary for the purposes of this section.
3 (d) The council shall report its findings and recommendations to the
4 legislature within one year of the establishment of the council and
5 yearly thereafter.
6 § 2. The economic development law is amended by adding a new section
7 180-c to read as follows:
8 § 180-c. Strategic farm and food product development coordinating
9 council. The department shall cooperate with the department of agricul-
10 ture and markets in establishing a strategic farm and food product
11 development coordinating council to identify farm and food products that
12 have the potential to create significant economic benefits to New York
13 agricultural producers, identifying resources and assistance to support
14 such efforts, and making such information available to interested farms
15 and food businesses.
16 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
