Assembly Resolution No. 291
BY: M. of A. Tague
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 25-31, 2025, as Farmworker Awareness Week in
the State of New York
WHEREAS, Hardworking American farmers provide New York State, the
Nation, and much of the world with a safe, healthy, affordable, and
abundant food supply; and
WHEREAS, Farmers boost our local economies by spending locally,
attracting tourism, and keeping money in our communities; in the United
States, agriculture is a thriving industry which provides $1.537
trillion in economic impact and provides food for an American population
of more than 341 million and beyond; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 25-31, 2025, as Farmworker
Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Farmworker Awareness Week; and
WHEREAS, National Farmworker Awareness Week is a designated week of
action for communities to bring attention to the multiple challenges
farmworkers face and honor their important and always essential
contributions to the food supply chain; and
WHEREAS, There are 2.6 million farmworkers in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Farmworkers are the critical first step in our food supply
chain, yet their contributions to the foods we purchase often go unseen;
and
WHEREAS, Farmworkers provide highly skilled, and often physically
and mentally challenging labor; they continue to work through the
challenges of Mother Nature, and perform under extreme pressure,
including the pandemic and other global challenges; and
WHEREAS, The need for farmworkers continues to grow as the United
States continues to produce food for an ever-growing world population;
and
WHEREAS, These past few years has helped the world shine a light on
the men and women of many essential industries, including agriculture;
now more than ever, consumers have taken an interest in where their food
comes from and the special people who help get it from farm to table;
and
WHEREAS, Essential to getting fresh and healthy food on supermarket
shelves, farmworkers grow, harvest, process and pack fresh food for
stores every day; nearly 2.6 million farmworkers are on farms and
ranches throughout the United States, performing hard and skilled labor;
and
WHEREAS, Farmworkers are the root of the Nation's supply chain and
ensure the availability, quality, and safety of our food; farmers
contribute $164.7 billion to the United States gross domestic product;
and
WHEREAS, The celebration of National Farmworker Awareness Week is in
recognition of farmers from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic
backgrounds and walks of life, who feed us and our families every day
and of the importance of agriculture as a vital industry and economic
driver in New York State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 25-31, 2025, as
Farmworker Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.
