Gov. David Paterson announced this week he will be signing an executive order that establishes state policies to promote sustainable local farms and protect agricultural land. Executive Order No. 39 “will set forth provisions to aid in the protection of agricultural lands for our state’s long-term economic and environmental prosperity," Paterson said in a release.
What exactly does the order mean for local farmers?
Jim Ochterski, agriculture program leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, explained that state government “has lot of buying power” in supplying prisoners, schools and health care facilities with food.
“The order mandates a change in policy, requiring state agencies revise their food purchasing to be more focused on locally sourced farm products,” he said.
A section of the order reads that “where feasible and without increased cost or burden” state-supported institutions “must increase the proportion of their total food purchases composed of locally grown food.”
“I got excited about this because it radically increases marketing opportunities for our local farmers,” Ochterski said.
For example, it’s the difference between selling quarts of strawberries and selling pounds of them, he said.
Currently, there are 7 million acres devoted to agriculture statewide. New York's 36,000 family farms generate $4.4 billion in annual sales, according to Paterson’s office.
In addition to economic benefits, the executive order should also help the environment, Paterson said. Agriculture helps ensure healthier soil and cleaner waterways by aiding in absorption of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses.
“State agencies are directed to consider these issues when reviewing and revising policies relevant to the purchase of agricultural products,” said Paterson.
