tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172792492012-01-14T04:50:43.106-05:00Providing news and commentary on issues facing the City's anti-hunger communityNYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.comBlogger3271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-45491354584356103552009-07-23T11:23:00.003-04:002009-09-18T10:50:16.082-04:00

Hey all, We just want to let everyone know that our blog address has changed. We're now at nyccoalitionagainsthunger.wordpress.comThanks for staying up-to-date with the Coalition's latest news.

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-18051569284336885482009-05-26T13:31:00.002-04:002009-05-26T13:35:08.999-04:00

In Fresh, Ana Joanes focuses on the people who are re-inventing the food system in the United States. Joanes offers practical alternatives to the current food system in the U.S., an industrial model that has led to food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Unlike some recent books and documentaries by organic food advocates that ignore

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-35974384046565144352009-04-09T16:14:00.002-04:002009-04-09T16:17:42.991-04:00

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NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-1918092975697506682009-04-01T12:22:00.002-04:002009-04-01T12:31:57.304-04:00

Today (April 1st, 2009), SNAP/Food Stamp recipients receive 13.6% more per month. This increase is due to the American Recovery Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which increases SNAP/Food Stamp benefits, gives states extra money to administer SNAP/Food Stamps, and also includes additional nutrition provisions. Here is the break down of what the ARRA provisions mean for New York State: <!--[if

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-41706513249320101622009-03-30T17:22:00.004-04:002009-03-30T17:25:34.837-04:00

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NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-48258698713262984322009-03-04T10:29:00.007-05:002009-03-05T09:49:27.810-05:00

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NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-28371590622681649972009-02-18T17:52:00.003-05:002009-02-18T17:54:31.840-05:00

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NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-64295810795128924652009-02-04T11:50:00.002-05:002009-02-04T11:55:31.882-05:00

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NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-46920762818383706902009-01-30T15:18:00.009-05:002009-02-06T13:18:31.420-05:00

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NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-37981122594784648542009-01-16T15:21:00.000-05:002009-01-16T15:22:22.706-05:00

In Senate confirmation hearings on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary-nominee Tom Vilsack promised to bring a “new vision” to the department of agriculture and vowed to prioritize initiatives that help families afford enough nutritious food. “In a powerful, rich country, none of us should be satisfied that there are children going to bed hungry,” said Vilsack. Vilsack noted that progress

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-21001882590167586182009-01-12T08:16:00.005-05:002009-01-12T08:58:04.857-05:00

When Dr. Martin Luther King surveyed the state of American life over 40 years ago, he saw a nation fractured by racial inequalities and poverty. While Dr. King is often remembered as a civil rights leader who fought the oppressive racial divisions in the United States, history often overlooks King’s dedication to eradicating poverty and hunger, as evidenced in his Poor People’s Campaign. In

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-4859991388378933722009-01-08T10:45:00.000-05:002009-01-08T10:46:01.505-05:00

Faced with a continuing recession and an uncertain economic future, Senate agricultural leaders have voiced their support for food stamp increases in the next stimulus package. Following the lead of President-elect Obama and economic advisors on both sides of the aisle, Senate Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) have called

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-27396450754578585182009-01-06T13:04:00.001-05:002009-01-06T13:05:47.010-05:00

For the past decade, New York City’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) has cited declining welfare rolls as proof that the City is effectively moving benefits recipients towards self-sufficiency. But the numbers tell a different story, say NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg and City Councilmember Bill de Blasio. From November 2007 to 2008, the City’s welfare caseload dropped by 16,000

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-54748552654091220372009-01-05T12:17:00.001-05:002009-01-05T12:17:47.517-05:00

Following a year of unprecedented demand for emergency food, Governor David Paterson announced $1 million in new funding for regional food banks across the state. The funds are intended to provide stopgap support to struggling food programs ahead of 2009 budget funding, which goes into effect on April 1. Governor Paterson’s proposed budget includes a $4.4 million budget increase for emergency

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-23232875292745720032008-12-30T10:21:00.001-05:002008-12-30T10:22:57.002-05:00

During the holidays, the local news is full of stories of food drives and images of stacked canned goods collected in an effort to help feed hungry New Yorkers. Food drives may help bring attention to food shortages at emergency food programs and food banks, but they are an inefficient means of supplying these programs with food. Government funding enables emergency food programs to

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-47534151537513751562008-12-22T18:11:00.006-05:002008-12-22T18:40:20.004-05:00

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009, President-elect Obama will officially inherit a host of domestic and international problems – including the fact that over 36 million Americans live in households that are unable to afford enough food.The on-going problem of hunger in the United States is in large part due to a lack of political will. In order to reduce domestic hunger and poverty, the

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-75043282896757154902008-12-22T15:25:00.008-05:002008-12-23T14:39:21.229-05:00

As more and more people in our communities are unable to afford healthy food, many faith leaders ask: what can I do to help?This holiday season, Faith Leaders for Food Justice visited over twenty-five churches in Harlem to deliver homemade cranberry sauce and to invite them to join Faith Leaders for Food Justice. We also delivered the information to over 150 other faith-based communities in

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-52738920044014834152008-12-19T15:44:00.010-05:002008-12-23T14:36:47.596-05:00

Consumers, medical professionals, and public health officials wasted no time reacting to the proposed “obesity tax” detailed in Governor Paterson’s 2009 Executive Budget. State officials claim that the 18% tax on non-diet sodas and fruit drinks with less than 70% juice would generate nearly $400 million a year in funds for health programs. The “obesity tax” could redefine the relationship

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-1423711457127482032008-12-17T10:44:00.009-05:002008-12-22T18:23:33.035-05:00

Governor Paterson yesterday released the details of his $121 billion 2009 Executive Budget, which includes 4.4 million in increased funding for emergency food programs. Governor Paterson reduced emergency food spending by 22% over the past year leaving food pantries and soup kitchens across the City unable to meet the growing demand. Still absent from Paterson’s proposal is the “millionaire’s

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-80024079182128889012008-12-15T08:19:00.001-05:002008-12-15T12:36:41.997-05:00

The results of a recent Human Resources Adminstration (HRA) applicant satisfaction survey have reopened a longstanding debate about who should be allowed to interact with clients in benefits office waiting rooms. The survey, which was administered by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum’s office, revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the Human Resources Administration (HRA): the city department that

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-84657616896211278492008-12-10T09:38:00.002-05:002008-12-10T09:40:00.607-05:00

Hayashi Ya Japanese restaurant on the Upper West Side has begun charging 3% above the $26.95 buffet cost for customers who don’t clean their plates. Hayashi Ya’s new policy suggests that the American tradition of all-you-can-eat buffets and monster portions could face changes as consumers and food vendors acknowledge the rising cost of not only the food on their plates, but the food that

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-77732954175619477452008-12-04T08:17:00.002-05:002008-12-04T08:22:32.383-05:00

“Last year we were doing okay,” said Larnise Smith, a Brooklyn resident who travels from food pantry to food pantry in order to find enough food for her large family. “It changed gradually.” For many low-income New Yorkers, the gradual change has now reached a crisis level. Many families have now found that they are unable to afford enough food merely by cutting their costs and have been

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-49112812937891540552008-12-02T12:58:00.000-05:002008-12-02T13:00:01.825-05:00

12 million American children live in homes that can’t afford enough food. Food banks across the country are reporting record shortages. Hunger costs Americans over $90 billion a year in increased healthcare spending, decreased worker productivity and lagging school performance. We’re all paying for hunger and the time is now to demand change from the incoming Presidential administration. In a

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-38110998020396874982008-12-01T14:59:00.001-05:002008-12-01T14:59:43.589-05:00

Following the release of data from NYCCAH’s 2008 Hunger Survey indicating a rise in demand and a sharp drop in resources at city soup kitchens and food pantries, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced a plan that aims to get more food to hungry New Yorkers. The plan would increase federal funding for emergency food by $50 million, raise Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP--formerly

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-64706374328723720572008-12-01T13:37:00.009-05:002008-12-11T12:53:45.155-05:00

A sharp increase in demand at soup kitchens and food pantries across the City combined with drastic funding cuts led to widespread shortages at emergency food programs in the past year. 68.8% of agencies reported they did not have enough food to meet the demand of their clients in 2008—up from 59% in 2007. NYCCAH’s 2008 Hunger Survey, entitled No Bailout for the Hungry: Funding Slashed to

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-40907248534342670692008-11-21T10:11:00.000-05:002008-11-21T10:12:14.906-05:00

A new partnership between NYCCAH and City Greenmarkets is ensuring that fresh bread and produce sold at the Carroll Gardens Greenmarket makes it to the tables of those who need it most. Surplus food from the Sunday Greenmarket will be donated to the Hanson Place Campaign Against Hunger, a client-choice food pantry in Fort Greene throughout the 2008 and 2009 market season. Hanson Place

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-34497732933840899602008-11-20T12:14:00.002-05:002008-11-20T12:15:31.682-05:00

Costco may not seem like a exclusive club, but it remains inaccessible for the nearly 28 million Americans receiving food stamps who can not use their benefits at Costco stores. This illogical blot on the record of an otherwise socially-conscious company has been keenly felt by the residents of the Queensbridge, Ravenswood and Astoria housing projects in Queens, all of which are in walking

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-33877199094398889922008-11-17T15:28:00.005-05:002008-11-17T16:18:16.200-05:00

It’s the most important meal of the day, and at public schools across the city, it’s finally available to everyone. Following years of advocacy from NYCCAH and other anti-hunger groups, the City is expanding a pilot program that will make breakfast available in the classroom for students at 299 schools over the next two years. Before the expansion, in-classroom breakfasts were available in only

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-65495237202855513002008-11-17T10:37:00.000-05:002008-11-17T10:38:24.949-05:00

On November 13, Governor Paterson unveiled a proposal that would enact sweeping state budget cuts, including cuts in human services. Paterson has warned that the plan “represents a series of difficult choices across virtually every area of State spending.” Although it is not yet clear how much funding for emergency food programs will be cut from the most recent proposal, any reduction in

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-19189840354150088772008-11-14T08:03:00.006-05:002008-11-14T08:06:21.165-05:00

In an effort to raise city revenue and cut down on waste, Mayor Bloomberg recently unveiled a proposal that would charge shoppers a tax of 6 cents for every plastic bag they receive at the register. The proposal follows on the heals of a July initiative that required grocery stores to accept used plastic bags for recycling and, if passed, would allegedly generate a revenue of $16 million a year.

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-6879945994607314702008-11-11T16:07:00.001-05:002008-11-11T16:07:56.496-05:00

Each election year, conservative politicians drag out a familiar refrain: low-income Americans, when granted access to basic rights like voting and receiving food stamp benefits, will inevitably exploit these rights and defraud government agencies en masse. Data has repeatedly shown not only that these claims are false, but that conservative lawmakers have poured millions of dollars into

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-1505378750079462072008-11-10T10:51:00.009-05:002008-11-10T11:04:54.981-05:00

At the end of an historic election season, Americans are calling upon President-elect Obama to again make history by ending hunger in America once and for all. The Obama-Biden anti-hunger plan combines measures that strengthen federal nutrition assistance programs and increase the long-term food purchasing power of low-income Americans by raising the minimum wage and providing affordable health

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-66165609435098351642008-11-04T15:38:00.001-05:002008-11-04T15:40:10.503-05:00

Hunger is taking a serious toll on the American people: Hunger causes childhood illnesses, developmental disabilities, and other health problems. Taxpayers pay $90 billion a year as a result of the continuing problem of hunger. Despite the severity of the hunger crisis, however, both presidential candidates largely ignored the issue of hunger in their campaigns. Massachusetts Representative

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-7191935647099477262008-11-03T11:09:00.000-05:002008-11-03T11:10:05.206-05:00

On October 30, Mayor Bloomberg announced 18 new initiatives to help New Yorkers endure economic hard times. New measures include expanding the in-classroom free breakfast program, allocating $1.3 million in funds for frozen vegetables at food pantries and extending further assistance to seniors applying for food stamps. The in-classroom breakfast program acts as a direct defense against

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-64249309020191224262008-11-03T08:47:00.000-05:002008-11-03T08:48:13.296-05:00

As Congress deliberates the future of a second economic stimulus package, economists have affirmed that food stamp increases offer a far greater sustained payoff for the economy as a whole than individual tax rebates. Recent data from Moody’s Economy shows that each dollar spent on food stamps boosts gross domestic product by $1.73, while the return on tax rebates is only $1.26 on the dollar.

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-49900613541220967312008-10-27T15:20:00.006-04:002008-10-27T15:24:12.771-04:00

A federal judge vindicated 36 delivery workers at two Saigon Grill Restaurants, who were paid less than $2 an hour and fined up to $200 for infractions as minor as letting a restaurant door slam. The workers were awarded a cumulative $4.6 million in back pay and damages, with individual workers receiving up to $328,000. “It was worth the fight,” said deliveryman Yu Guan Ke, “because we were

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-42348070150030030452008-10-27T14:41:00.000-04:002008-10-27T15:01:01.209-04:00

For New Yorkers who cannot afford enough food, being forced to rely on food pantries often means structuring their meals around the contents of a pre-packaged pantry bag, rather than on food that healthy and culturally appropriate. The pre-packaged pantry model takes away the customer’s ability to choose and can result in wasted food if customers do not use the contents of the bag, which often

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-1745909626704920802008-10-22T10:54:00.000-04:002008-10-22T10:55:56.081-04:00

More Americans are worried about their ability to buy food in the future, as rising food prices and a failing economy have driven up expenses for many low- and middle-income families. A recent report from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) shows that as many as 57% of Americans worry about being able to afford enough food, up from 27% just a year ago. The report further suggests that

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-82249689325568119962008-10-17T11:15:00.004-04:002008-10-17T11:20:38.502-04:00

In honor of Hunger Action Month, government officials, hunger advocates and families across the country spent a week living on a food budget of $25 per person per week as part of a state- or locally-sponsored Food Stamp Challenge. How much does $25 a week buy? Not much, participants quickly realized. For families used to spending $200 a week on groceries, cutting their food budget in half to

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-74200405532903722342008-10-14T16:02:00.007-04:002008-10-15T08:08:22.000-04:00

In “Farmer in Chief,” published in the New York Times on October 12th, Michael Pollan proposed a new food agenda (the “sun-food agenda”) to “wean the American food system off its heavy 20th-century diet of fossil fuel and put it back on a diet of contemporary sunshine.” Pollan characterizes hunger in the United States as a problem of “overnutrition” and urges the President Elect to support the

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-56396517909351996872008-10-10T11:27:00.003-04:002008-10-10T11:31:20.764-04:00

While many retailers are feeling the strain of a tumbling economy, more customers are turning to discount and dollar stores for an affordable way to feed their families, often relying on heavily-processed food. Even before the economic crisis, dollar and discount stores have functioned as grocery stores for low-income populations, but as food prices climb, discount retails like Family Dollar have

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-40248672558385528022008-10-09T15:22:00.001-04:002008-10-09T15:25:05.026-04:00

Recent funding cuts and economic instability mean that more New York City children are living with the continual threat of hunger and often eating smaller meals or less healthy food. From 2003 to 2007, the number of New York City households with children that had trouble affording enough food grew by 41%, according to a recent study published by the Food Bank for New York City. The study

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-67564326200664785012008-10-08T12:31:00.003-04:002008-10-08T12:35:36.672-04:00

Families living in food insecurity may be more likely to rely on “compensatory foods” to assuage their childrens’ hunger, according to a new study published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.Of the 306 families surveyed, mothers in food insecure households were twice as likely to give their children supplements like PediaSure or Carnation Instant Breakfast to curb

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-52317261723059797022008-09-29T10:15:00.002-04:002008-09-29T12:57:16.590-04:00

Agencies receiving commodity foods from the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) are getting less food despite their calculated entitlements, recent reports show. The $189 million federal program allots commodity foods like dried beans, pasta and canned fruit to emergency food networks. The dollar amount of many agencies’ entitlements has remained the same while TEFAP costs have

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-53675644494688752432008-09-26T13:57:00.006-04:002008-09-26T14:03:51.155-04:00

Dozens of the 100 senior centers operated in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings will close following extensive funding deficits. NYCHA senior centers offer meals and services to low-income seniors suffering from food insecurity and lack of access to grocery stores.The closings follow a 2003 memorandum of understanding between NYCHA and the Department for the Aging which would have

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-26184415946226961222008-09-24T12:17:00.002-04:002008-10-15T09:24:40.703-04:00

On September 19th, Mayor Bloomberg announced an executive order which made New York City the first major city in the country to establish healthy standards for all food served at City agencies. The City serves 225 million meals each year at City schools, public hospitals, senior centers and correctional facilities. The nutrition standards, developed by the City Food Policy Task Force, will

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-70958720500402546562008-09-19T08:05:00.001-04:002008-09-19T08:13:51.949-04:00

With hurricanes Ike and Gustav wracking eastern and Gulf states and damaging tornadoes hitting the Midwest, federal Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) are working with state and local governments to ensure that those hit hard by disaster still have access to the food they need. FNS is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provides the services that

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-71132895679158182312008-09-16T14:07:00.006-04:002008-09-22T16:42:36.735-04:00

In “Coming up short: High food costs outstrip food stamp benefits,” the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP) at Boston Medical Center found that the maximum food stamp benefit does not buy the items included in the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) in any size food store in Boston and Philadelphia. The situation in Boston and Philadelphia reflects a nation-wide phenomenon in which

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-50360629673572722792008-09-11T13:32:00.003-04:002008-09-11T13:35:53.358-04:00

For school food programs, healthier options are still a hard sell. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Child Nutrition Commodity Program offers 180 items to school food programs, which account for 20% of the food served in school meals. Though the Commodity Program has increased its offering of more nutritious food in recent years, a recent study released by the California Food Policy

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-91530178372549253092008-09-09T13:10:00.004-04:002008-09-17T08:40:58.777-04:00

Seventy years after the Great Depression, children in the United States still suffer from food insecurity and hunger, despite the fact that the United States has more than enough resources to end child hunger once and for all. Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund recently called attention to the critical need for government to intervene on behalf of food insecure

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-36884674596432896232008-09-05T11:17:00.001-04:002008-09-05T11:20:24.231-04:00

An error in legislative language has prevented the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from distributing nearly $5 million in Community Food Projects (CFP) grants to low-income communities this year. The USDA awards competitive grants up to $300,000 to projects that improve community self-reliance in relation to food distribution and production. Imprecise wording in a section of

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-25767745283951565042008-09-03T11:21:00.005-04:002008-09-03T11:35:58.553-04:00

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is an innovative program that builds a relationship between local farmers who grow produce and individuals who want access to locally grown fresh produce. For city dwellers, it offers an opportunity to gain access to freshly grown food and to support the local economy. On Friday, August 22, members of the Long Island City CSA were given a chance to see the

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-27359677058130012472008-08-29T11:30:00.002-04:002008-08-29T11:35:02.652-04:00

New York State is leading the way in increasing food stamp recipients’ access to local, fresh produce. Supported by the Federal Food Stamp program, farmers markets across the state have installed wireless electronic benefits transfer (EBT) terminals that work like credit card machines to accept benefit cards. The initiative is helping to ensure that benefits recipients, whose food options are

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-35377333454058575932008-08-28T14:12:00.003-04:002008-09-17T09:01:47.654-04:00

The income gap between the poor and the rich is greater in New York than in any other state in the nation, according to 2007 American Community Survey data released on August 26. The data indicated that, though nationwide poverty levels have remained relatively stable over the past year, the inequality of wealth in New York City exceeds that of Mexico and Sri Lanka, with the poorest 20% of New

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-76233625286675065932008-08-25T15:51:00.000-04:002008-08-25T15:52:39.282-04:00

On Friday, August 22, the USDA released a comprehensive comparison of the 2008 Farm Bill and previous farm bill legislation. The report highlights many changes that received little public attention during the extended debate surrounding the omnibus legislation. For example, the 2008 Farm Bill allows states to establish methods whereby food stamp applicants can sign their application by over the

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-48408144826114740882008-08-21T14:18:00.003-04:002008-08-25T12:13:42.776-04:00

For the second time in five months, Governor David Paterson and the State Legislature slashed food funding to emergency soup kitchens and food pantries, despite the soaring need at such agencies. In April, the Legislature and the Governor cut by 16% the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), the main source of State funding for charitable food pantries, soup kitchens, and

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-30063381577405856312008-08-19T11:39:00.001-04:002008-08-19T11:43:28.407-04:00

Food stamp purchases at City Greenmarkets nearly doubled in early July as compared to totals for the same time last year. City Council has outfitted 14 Greenmarkets with Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) terminals, making it easier and more discrete for food stamp recipients to purchase fresh, local produce in their neighborhoods. This is part of an ongoing trend: Total food stamp purchases at

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-13616032408920414212008-08-18T12:24:00.004-04:002008-08-18T12:31:35.994-04:00

Low-income families are extremely vulnerable to economic downturn, and so too are the government programs that help these families afford to eat, care for their children and defend their rights. Governor Paterson has called for $1 billion in cuts to these services, while referring to alternate plans, such as revenue-raising, as a last resort.Given the robust growth of the gulf between the richest

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-46837066201042345232008-08-15T15:16:00.001-04:002008-08-15T15:18:35.685-04:00

The Consumer Price index reported a 5.6% increase in the cost of many common products since July 2007, marking the most dramatic increase since the recession of the early 1990s. Accelerated inflation has had a swift negative affect on the spending power of American workers. Blue-collar workers wages, when adjusted for inflation, fell by 3.1 percent since last year. The economic downturn has

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-68037212067727629692008-08-15T08:03:00.001-04:002008-08-15T08:05:36.075-04:00

Though many low-income workers believe that economic success can still be attained through hard work, the majority believe that government policies have contributed in some part to their difficult financial situation. In a new study sponsored by Harvard University, the Washington Post and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, more than half of the low-wage workers surveyed believed that

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-76622263215827364162008-08-13T07:58:00.007-04:002008-08-13T08:10:53.240-04:00

Soup kitchens and food pantries across the country are already anticipating the increased need for their services in what will likely be a desperate winter. Home heating costs are expected to increase up to 100% from last year as the cost of heating oil has spiked. These increases will make it difficult for even middle-class households to afford other basic expenses such as rent, food, and

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-57702462642174242452008-08-08T11:21:00.005-04:002008-08-08T11:25:11.052-04:00

The number of New York City families living in homeless shelters has not decreased despite Mayor Bloomberg’s anti-homelessness initiative which increased spending on homelessness prevention services by 20%. The initiative began in 2004 and aimed to reduce homelessness in New York but did not put forth any concrete target goals. The Bloomberg administration has touted progress reports as

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-46713918480066838832008-08-07T11:26:00.003-04:002008-08-07T11:31:24.893-04:00

In the wake of the 2008 Farm Bill reauthorization, legislators and anti-hunger advocates are preparing for the 2009 Reauthorization of Child Nutrition and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Programs. The Child Nutrition Program includes funding for subsidized free and low-cost school and summer meals for children, while the WIC Program offers nutrition assistance to low-income pregnant

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-33056533576456142442008-08-05T11:25:00.004-04:002008-08-05T11:31:42.668-04:00

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NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-84444861150905708842008-08-04T11:22:00.009-04:002008-08-13T10:34:22.501-04:00

On July 30, 2008, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that Congress allocated $21 million in grant awards to 49 state agencies and tribal organizations for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program in final Fiscal Year 2008 grant awards. Of the $21 million total allocated in the final awards, New York State received $1,906,553. The $21 million allocation represented $5 million more

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-42135501209855158452008-07-31T15:57:00.010-04:002008-07-31T16:04:29.150-04:00

For many Queens families, the existence of neighborhood greenmarkets has done little to increase their access to fresh produce. The greenmarkets in Jackson Heights and Astoria are the only two Queens markets currently accepting food stamps. In addition, the borough has yet to be included in the City's Health Bucks program, which offers $2 greenmarket vouchers to food stamp customers for every

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-11863097621507600422008-07-30T09:40:00.001-04:002008-07-30T09:44:32.215-04:00

For New Yorkers seeking employment, food stamps can offer a financial lifeline during the job-seeking process. A new proposal would extend the time period in which job seekers can receive benefits, as food prices continue to rise and the job market remains weak. On July 29, Representative Nydia Velázquez of New York’s 12th District introduced the Food Security Act of 2008, which would make

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-4540183271709715082008-07-28T15:09:00.003-04:002008-07-29T09:48:05.779-04:00

According to reports from college campuses, more students are turning to college-run food pantries to subsidize their nutrition needs and students who already receive food stamps are vocalizing their need for more assistance. Despite specific eligibility requirements for student food stamp applicants, many college students may still qualify for food stamps, especially otherwise-eligible

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-47292635108633112552008-07-22T12:17:00.000-04:002008-07-22T12:18:12.448-04:00

25 million American children are obese or at risk of becoming obese, according to data presented at the Senate Hearing on Childhood Obesity on July 16. The Senate heard testimony from medical professionals and policymakers, who emphasized the strong connection between poverty and childhood obesity, while stressing the widespread consequences of inaction in response to what Senator Chris Dodd

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-58493329121986137522008-07-16T11:09:00.000-04:002008-07-16T11:10:07.880-04:00

In March and April, City-supported food pantries served 1.39 million meals, marking a 9.3% increase compared to the 1.27 million meals served during the same time period in 2007, according to the New York City Department of Social Services. Soup kitchens were similarly affected, serving 559,798 meals in March and April, up 8.8% from last year. These sharp increases in soup kitchen and food pantry

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-29228518457904913432008-07-15T13:05:00.005-04:002008-07-15T13:19:25.458-04:00

Immigrants are disproportionately vulnerable to economic insecurity and remain disproportionately underserved by the food stamps program, according to a study entitled “Nourishing NYC: Increasing Food Stamps Access to Immigrant Communities,” released by the Urban Justice Center last week. According to the study, eligible non-citizens are only 77% as likely as citizens to receive food stamp

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-27822015192257820202008-07-11T12:00:00.004-04:002008-07-11T13:50:54.543-04:00

On Wednesday, July 9, Senator John Edwards met with local food pantry clients and toured the Yorkville Common Pantry in East Harlem as a part of the “Half in Ten” Campaign, which aims to reduce poverty in the United States by 50% in ten years. The New York City Coalition Against Hunger and World Hunger Year joined Senator Edwards in bringing attention to widespread hunger and poverty in New

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-59795425968808196842008-07-08T14:47:00.001-04:002008-07-08T14:48:23.246-04:00

As New York City children celebrate the beginning of summer vacation, sites across the five boroughs are ensuring that children can continue to receive free, nutritious meals throughout the summer. Over 700 hundred New York City schools, community centers, public pools, soup kitchens and food pantries participate in the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), offering breakfast and

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-15436913209459293822008-06-30T11:37:00.003-04:002008-06-30T11:41:30.004-04:00

The area surrounding the Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement House has only one grocery store, despite being home to Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing development in the nation. In a neighborhood where fresh produce is very hard to find, the new Long Island City Community Supported Agriculture Project is offering residents not only a source for local produce, but also a chance to

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-14557013674717049462008-06-27T11:43:00.001-04:002008-06-27T11:43:55.199-04:00

12.6 million American children live in households without enough food. The stark reality of rising food costs, food shortages, and the limited gains in the recent Farm Bill will shape the next President's position in the fight against child hunger in the U.S. NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg and Tom Freedman outlined a strategy for the next President to end child hunger. First, they argue,

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-26507120874605061232008-06-24T09:17:00.000-04:002008-06-24T09:18:19.946-04:00

Early this month a Congressional coalition led by Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. called on legislators to temporarily raise food stamp benefits by 20% in to account for sharply rising food costs. Congress has yet to rule on the measure, which would offer some aid to struggling families until the farm bill’s limited increase in benefits is enacted in October. The coalition’s plea was

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-47530661787010073692008-06-20T16:21:00.004-04:002008-06-20T16:27:25.744-04:00

A recent City Council study found that 600,000 families citywide are eligible for federal food stamp benefits, but have not applied. In response to these findings, City Council has vowed to increase outreach to the one million New Yorkers who receive Medicaid benefits but have yet to apply for food stamps. At a press conference on Wednesday, June 18th City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-66456212028512849092008-06-17T16:17:00.004-04:002008-06-17T16:25:13.112-04:00

Food prices increased in May in the context of the on-going economic problems of rising prices coupled with lackluster growth. Though the federal reserve has been using the word “inflation” with care in recent weeks, consumers are confronting the reality of inflation at gas pumps and grocery stores. Food prices increased by 0.8 percent in May, after remaining level in April. Pork and fresh

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-86256617015681207012008-06-13T13:54:00.005-04:002008-06-13T14:54:05.519-04:00

Worldwide demand for increased grain production has dampened initial excitement about a future powered by ethanol. Queens City Councilman Eric Gioia has drafted two-fold resolution calling on Governor Paterson to petition the Environmental Protection Agency for a state-wide waiver on federal ethanol production requirements, while urging the federal government to gradually withdrawal their use of

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-978414081003162772008-06-10T11:09:00.001-04:002008-06-10T11:10:43.344-04:00

Americans who depend upon emergency food programs need more than a meal or a pantry bag. The increased need for emergency food programs across the nation points to a lapse in governmental oversight of social programs coupled with economic problems that leave many citizens unable to afford the most basic of necessities. The 350 emergency food programs in Brooklyn, like programs across the

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-84373083517638625152008-06-02T14:58:00.001-04:002008-06-09T09:28:40.195-04:00

Following an error of omission, legislators are poised to override the Presidential veto on the 2007 farm bill in its entirety, thus finally passing the $309 billion legislation. Though opponents of the bill have generated speculation about further legislative deliberation in light of the error, widespread and bipartisan support has all but guaranteed a successful override of the bill in its

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-49910356500093610332008-05-30T16:53:00.000-04:002008-05-30T16:54:25.591-04:00

A 1976 New York City tax incentive program, designed to create jobs and support home-grown businesses amid the threat of suburban exodus, is now funneling funds from the nearly $410 million-a-year program to fast food restaurants and chain retailers. In a recent report of the city’s Economic Development Corporation, Manhattan borough President Scott Stringer argued that the subsidies are

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-68080529900119568692008-05-28T15:30:00.003-04:002008-05-29T16:02:44.755-04:00

With economic downturn comes hunger, and with hunger comes obesity. Though this equation seems to counter the traditional logic of dieting, for families trying to survive on food stamps, buying low-cost high calorie-food is often the only solution for making limited allotments last into the second or third week of the month, prompting a cycle of serious weight gain. The U.S. Department of

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-42870659983694202822008-05-23T11:51:00.004-04:002008-05-28T15:37:19.400-04:00

The future of the farm bill remains uncertain.Here’s the good news: Yesterday the House again approved the farm bill by 306 to 110 and the Senate quickly voted to support the bill by a majority of 82 to 13. Both of these votes were sufficient to override President Bush’s veto (Wednesday).The problem is that this vote was to override Bush’s veto on the “original” farm bill – which suffered from an

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-44328827382342722012008-05-22T14:45:00.000-04:002008-05-22T14:47:16.439-04:00

Yesterday May 21, seemed to be a day of uncharacteristic swiftness for the nascent farm bill. As expected, President Bush vetoed the bill and the House responded with an override vote of 316 to 108, moving the bill one step closer to a final override vote in the Senate before the holiday recess. However, an administrative blunder rendered both the veto and the vote moot and insured that the

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-85965865093435511182008-05-20T13:57:00.007-04:002008-05-20T14:21:48.659-04:00

There are 64 billionaires in New York City and yet 1 in 5 children lives in a food-insecure household.The recent economic crisis has further worsened the problem of hunger in the “land of plenty.”“Downturn leaves food pantries bare” proclaimed a recent headline in Am-NY. The article highlighted the increased need and decreased supplies in food pantries throughout New York at the same time as

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-59750677386074096312008-05-19T15:55:00.002-04:002008-05-19T15:59:30.231-04:00

Vulnerable populations, including low-income children and seniors, are the hardest hit by economic crisis. Many seniors have recently found that Social Security is no longer enough to cover their food expenses. “It’s a damn shame,” said Mary Hood, 89, who relies on Haber House Senior Center in Coney Island for many of her meals. “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer…Sometimes I

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-69514368841631257372008-05-15T15:42:00.004-04:002008-05-16T16:23:14.722-04:00

Yesterday, May 14, 2008, the House of Representatives voted 318 to 106 to pass the farm bill (The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008). The bipartisan vote surpassed the 2/3 required to override a presidential veto, making it more likely that the bill, which the House has debated for seven months, will be passed into law. Several legislators from both sides of the floor voiced concern

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-62219913978856037622008-05-14T08:02:00.002-04:002008-05-15T17:38:21.604-04:00

As Congress rallies for bipartisan votes to pass the Farm Bill and, if so, override of a Presidential veto, the Bush administration continues to display a fundamental misunderstanding of the bill’s nutrition title and the inefficiency of nutrition provisions under the 2002 Farm Bill. The current bill would increase nutrition spending by $10.3 billion over 10 years, while increasing the standard

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-34834588314989045382008-05-13T16:07:00.000-04:002008-05-13T16:08:25.707-04:00

Testifying before a joint hearing of the New York City Council Committees on Civil Rights and Consumer Affairs, NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg exhorted city officials to take responsibility for combating rising hunger rates by committing to large-scale anti-poverty initiatives, citing the effectiveness of Great Society programs, which cut poverty rates in half in the 1960s and 1970s. Berg

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-52117794116175964252008-05-09T12:53:00.000-04:002008-05-09T12:54:08.698-04:00

Following three extensions and seemingly interminable debate, the latest compromise farm bill has, like earlier versions, been met with the threat of Presidential veto. Congressional negotiators agreed to the $296 billion legislation, which increase funding for nutrition programs, including food stamps and emergency food programs, by $10 billion, while expanding an initiative to provide more

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-12160836218325325462008-05-07T13:42:00.002-04:002008-05-08T08:44:58.666-04:00

As food prices continue to rise, the steady loss of city supermarkets seems to add insult to injury for both consumers and supermarket employees. According to a study published by the New York City Department of City Planning on April 21, 3 million New Yorkers live in neighborhoods that require more accessible supermarkets, while many more could benefit from competing supermarkets where they

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-28226472305967265222008-05-02T12:51:00.000-04:002008-05-02T12:52:01.821-04:00

Applying for food stamps in New York is what one frustrated applicant called “a full-time job;” one made more complicated by city inefficiency. Following reports of widespread processing delays, an April 16 U.S. District Court settlement requires immediate city compliance with legal time frames for benefits processing at non-cash assistance (NCA) food stamp offices, while mandating state and

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-84051034156516229972008-04-30T11:11:00.000-04:002008-04-30T11:12:36.175-04:00

Amid sobering news of a deflating economy, Wall Street Journal columnist Brett Arends urged readers to start investing in their kitchen pantries. Arends compared current food cost inflation with the spike in gas prices earlier this decade, while warning that the reality of food shortages could catch many consumers unprepared, like $4 gallons of gas. “The emerging bull market in agricultural

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-32183497493870433992008-04-24T16:42:00.004-04:002008-04-24T16:45:31.120-04:00

Following a spike in rice futures, several wholesale retailers, including Sam’s Club, Costco and online distributor Patel Brothers, have announced that they will ration customer purchases of imported specialty rice. The cost of rice has risen 68% since the start of 2008, prompting business owners and individual consumers to stock up before further cost increases. Recent food cost inflation has

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-46981310243608326522008-04-23T15:58:00.004-04:002008-04-23T16:04:12.457-04:00

This week, many Starbucks customers have been confronted with a decision beyond the familiar terrain of tall, grandé and venti: though a vanilla frappucino may be worth $4.05, but is it worth 480 calories? Calorie consciousness has become a bit easier for New Yorkers since last Wednesday’s court decision requiring chain restaurants to prominently post the calorie contents of their menu items. The

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-40774585417708430652008-04-23T10:25:00.003-04:002008-04-23T10:30:55.815-04:00

In the fight to woo new groceries to underserved neighborhoods, New York will likely model policies on Pennsylvania’s $120 million Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which has attracted 50 food stores to the state since 2004, and was recently cited among the top 50 public programs in the nation by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Business. The initiative offers a combination of

NYCCAHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05407254693588873161noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17279249.post-91440091374818989382008-04-22T15:10:00.000-04:002008-04-22T15:11:16.695-04:00

The farm bill again received new life in a one-week extension passed by President Bush late Friday, April 18, which marked the end of a previous one-month extension. The most recent extension was prompted by legislative request in what many hope will be the final, or at least penultimate, effort to harmonize House and Senate versions of the bill, and to produce a substantially trimmed bill that

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