AG Secretary Fumbles on Farm Bill Nutrition Title

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 income deduction for food stamp eligibility to more fully account for current inflation for the first time since 1996. The bill would also index benefits to inflation rates and raise the minimum monthly benefit from $10 to $14. Despite these desperately-needed reforms, in a May 9 press conference, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer questioned whether increased food stamp access was intended to make the government “feel good about taking care of people,” asking, “in a time when we have a fairly decent sized percentage of people who are eligible for the food stamp program and are not participating…why would we expand eligibility to the program?” Schafer fails to note that food stamp enrollment has increased in response to the flailing economy, but that the federal government still needs to address the administrative barriers to access that have prevented eligible families and individuals from receiving benefits. A successful veto could result in a two-year extension of the 2002 Farm Bill, which would accelerate the current food crisis and leave millions of Americans with insufficient benefits. It is extremely troubling that, as the food costs soar and the gap between rich and poor Americans increases daily, Schafer is asking “do we really have a problem here?”

Executive Director Berg Calls on City to Increase Jobs and Wages, Not Pilot Programs

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 noted that poverty rates have risen during Mayor Bloomberg’s administration despite his avowed commitment to ending poverty, and in response to the implementation of small-scale anti-poverty pilot programs across the city, which have placed the onus for economic change upon poor individuals. “We cannot dramatically reduce poverty without significant new expenditures. Trying to reduce poverty without increasing the money available to low-income families is like trying to reduce drought without increasing the availability of water” said Berg, who also noted that, while poverty has increased, so too have tax breaks for large City Corporations. “The original investment in the City’s poverty initiative was only $150 per year million, which equals only $97 per person living in poverty. In contrast, Goldman Sachs is getting an average of $83,000 in government funding for each person who is going to work in the new headquarters,” he observed. To begin to combat these massive inequities, Berg called on city, state and federal officials to commit to enacting a living wage, increase EITC funding and make it easier for individuals and families to access government programs like food stamps, WIC, and subsidized health insurance.

Seven Months Later, Farm Bill Still Faces Veto

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 fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals. President Bush has denounced the bill citing overspending and claiming that it offers no “real reform.” Farm subsidies have been a primary point of contention between the President and legislators, though subsidies account for only an estimated 16% of farm bill spending, according to House Agricultural Committee Chair Collin Peterson. NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg urged swift rectification of the most recent bill, noting that the absence of a new farm bill exacerbates the current hunger crisis. “The federal government has the resources and the scope to sole this problem,” said Berg. Congress may overturn a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber of Congress. The July 2007 version of the bill passed by 231 votes in the House and 79 in the Senate; a two-thirds majority would require votes of 290 and 67, respectively.

Faced with Supermarket Shortages, City and Community Groups Fight Back

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 live. Currently there are only 550 supermarkets over 10,000 square feet serving city residents, with fewer supermarkets per capita in low-income neighborhoods like Harlem, East New York and Jamaica. By implementing initiatives that have proven effective in Pennsylvania, the city plans to recoup the nearly $1 billion dollars in supermarket revenue that have been lost to the suburbs: a profit that the DOCP says will support 100 new city supermarkets. The study also noted the tendency of new supermarkets to attract complimentary businesses and to increase local property values, while improving the health of nearby residents. It’s a battle that Local 1500 of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union is fighting on another front, by working with community boards to ensure that commercial space is reserved for neighborhood supermarkets, even as many owners are forced to fold from rising rent costs. The UFCW and Bronx Community Board 9 are currently struggling to preserve a Key Foods on Bruckner Avenue and, with it, the jobs of 100 Key Foods employees. By applying combined local force on building owners Vornado Realty Trust, Enrique Vega, Chairman of Bronx Community Board 9, hopes to secure the supermarket’s centrality in his community, while combating exorbitant rent increases. Said Vega, “[Vornado] are in deep trouble if they think they are going to put another type of store there. They’ll need a variance or an agreement with the community board, and they are not going to get it. We want a supermarket.”

Court Mandates HRA Compliance with Food Stamp Processing Deadlines

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 federal court oversight of city compliance for at least four years. State and federal law require food stamp applications to be processed within 30 days of the original application date, or five days for the most urgent applications. A report published at the beginning of the year found that the Human Resources Administration, which processes food stamp applications, was failing to comply with these deadlines in eight percent of cases. NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg compared the HRA’s irresponsibility in these cases to a fire department who refused to put out eight percent of local fires. Said Berg, “One in twelve people cannot get desperately needed help.” The HRA attributes non-compliance to recent changes in administrative procedure and an increase in the number of applicants who do not receive public assistance and thus rely directly on NCA offices for benefits processing. But despite increased reliance on NCA offices, the total caseload of food stamps recipients has not swelled to numbers worthy of the kind of delays experienced by applicants. Enrollment rates continue to hover around 1.1 million, while many qualifying New Yorkers do not currently receive benefits. As part of the settlement, food stamp centers will also be required to post signs informing applicants of their right to receive benefits within these legally established deadlines.

Amid Growing Inequities, Wall Street Journal Tells Readers to Stockpile Food

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 products is following in the footsteps of oil. A few years ago, many Americans hoped $2 gas was a temporary spike. Now it's the rosy memory of a bygone age,” said Arends. Attributing rising food costs to the demands of the biofuels industry and of the growing middle class in China and India, Arends fails to mention the export restrictions that these countries have imposed in order to meet domestic demands and which are likely the direct cause of recent sharp increases. Arend also fails to acknowledge that concerned consumers buying in bulk have already prompted rationing at major wholesale stores; that those hit hardest by the current crisis are incapable of “stocking up;” and that middle class hoarding will in fact exacerbate the problem. His stark “every man for himself” proposal contrasts sharply with the recent opinion of Kaushik Basu, Professor of economics at Cornell University, who finds the source of the crisis in the increasing vulnerability of low-income populations worldwide. Said Basu, “Relative price fluctuations are an unavoidable part of an efficient economy. This becomes worrying when some people are so poor that a small rise in price becomes a life and death question for them. This crisis therefore should also be a reminder that the level of inequality that prevails in the world today is untenable.”

Rice Rations Indicate Further Trouble for Food Economy

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 left few food staples unaffected, but the rice spike, Reuters claims, has been exacerbated in part by product loyalty, which, for many consumers, takes precedent over buying domestic products. In an attempt to insulate local markets from further food shortages South Asian rice exporters have been reserving more rice for local sale, thus limiting U.S. imports. Long-grain imported varieties, including basmati and jasmine, are the only rice currently under ration, while domestic supplies remain stable. "California's had a pretty good crop, but basmati and jasmine consumers have a history of not switching," said U.S. Department of Agriculture rice specialist Nathan Childs. "They could always have bought cheaper Calrose. But they don't." U.S. rationing is indicative of an uneasy month for international food markets, following deadly food riots in Haiti and Yemen at the beginning of April.

Calorie Posting Law Brings a Shot of Nutritional Reality

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 law represents a victory in the city’s attempt to combat rising obesity rates. Despite a further ruling that delayed calorie-posting mandates until at least April 26, Cosi, Starbucks and Chipotle were among chains that chose to disclose calorie information before the law takes effect. Customer reactions ranged from blaisé to alarmed as they confronted the nutritional reality of their regular orders. “Wow, the blueberry scone is 480 calories. It makes me not buy, for sure,” said Starbuck’s customer Helena Hungar. Chipotle customer Ralph Arend was unmoved: “If you’re really concerned, you can cook for yourself.” But for those who rely on fast food restaurants for cheap accessible food, especially in neighborhoods where there are few other options, calorie posting may serve as a clear reminder of the inequities of access to nutritious food and limited nutritional options available even among competing chain restaurants.

Courting Supermarkets, City Turns to Pennsylvania Precedent

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 financial incentives, including tax credits, state funding and private grants, for supermarkets that serve fresh food in low-income areas. The state’s interest in the Pennsylvania program follows a sharp drop in the number of city supermarkets over the past six years: a trend that state officials hope to rectify, while improving on current methods for food retail development. Previous city projects include a joint venture with the East Harlem Abyssinian Triangle and the Abyssinian Development Corporation that brought Pathmark to 125^th street in 1999, and with it, nearly two hundred new jobs for neighborhood residents. Said New York State Agriculture Commisioner Patrick Hooker at a recent listening session of the State Board of Food Policy, “I think we’re on a track that will lead to better food access in lower-income communities. We’re familiar with [the effort in] Pennsylvania. I’m looking forward to moving ahead with that.”

Despite Deadlines Farm Bill Debate Proves Interminable

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 would meet with the President’s demands. Legislators may propose another extended deadline in order to prepare the bill for a final vote. Though optimists may see an end in site, some are predicting further extensions of the 2002 farm bill lasting a year or more. Joel Berg, Executive Director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, notes: "Every extension is bad for hungry people, because every extension means that food stamps benefits still have not been raised and that food bank shelves have not been filled." The farm bill is a massive piece of legislation that includes provisions for the food stamp program, agricultural subsidies, nutrition and conservation initiatives.

CSAs Offer Mutual Benefit for Farmers and Low-Income Members

For low-income CSA members, weekly deliveries of fresh produce contribute to healthy meals and strong communities. Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs) allow individuals to purchase shares of a farmer’s crop that they receive in the form of produce deliveries over the course of the growing season. Farmers benefit from the advance payment for the seasons crop, while CSA members gain reliable access to fresh, organic, local produce. CSAs are a win-win proposition for many low-income families in neighborhoods where fresh produce is much less accessible than processed, packaged food. Though the expense associated with traditional CSAs often limits enrollment to affluent members, New York City CSA sponsors NYCCAH, Just Food, and United Way work to increase access to their CSAs by accepting food stamps; allowing members to pay for their shares in installments; and enrolling a percentage of higher-income members to offset the cost of low-income member shares. For Zoraima Rodriguez, president of the United Tremont CSA in Mt. Hope, the CSA contributes not only to her family’s health, but to the strength of her neighborhood. CSA-sponsored family cooking classes unify neighbors in the common goal of eating well. Says Rodriguez, “my girls used to eat a lot of McDonald’s before and different street food. Now they don’t ask for it. They eat more fruits; they eat more vegetables. I see that they’re more active…in the community.” This year NYCCAH will co-sponsor the second season of the West Harlem CSA and the founding season of a CSA in Long Island City. For further information or to join one of these CSAs, please contact Michael Paone in West Harlem at 212-316-7490 ext. 7591, mpaone@nyccah.org or Danielle Seidita in Long Island City at 212.741.8192 ext. 5, dseidita@hungeractionnys.org

Judge Upholds Decision To Require Calorie Postings

On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled to uphold the city's policy requiring that calories be posted on some menus, saying that the law is a reasonable approach to the city's goal of reducing obesity. The law is scheduled to take effect on Monday and applies to restaurants that have more than 15 outlets across the country. Fast-food chains like McDonald's, as well as sit-down restaurants like Olive Garden and TGI Fridays would be affected by the new policy. Some restaurants like Starbucks and Chipotle have already started to post calories on menus. Although the rule will take effect on April 21, restaurants will be given a grace period to make the necessary adjustments, but as of June 3rd, those not in compliance will be subject to fines.

50 city green carts to roll out fruit, veggies for healthier diet in Queens

According to a Health Department survey, 90% of New Yorkers said they ate fewer than the recommended minimum five servings of fruits or vegetables a day, and 14% said they ate none at all. The city is hoping that a plan to place 50 new "green carts" in Queens will give borough residents more access to fresh fruits and veggies. On Monday, city health officials told members of the Queens Borough Board that the carts, which could appear as soon as this summer, will appear first in sections of southeast Queens and the Rockaways. Hopefully, with 50 “green carts” to roll out this summer and permits for an additional 50 carts to be issued the following year, areas essentially known as "food deserts, where options are very limited and the quality of options that do exist is fairly poor," will begin to disappear, and eating the recommended minimum servings of fruits and veggies will become part of a daily routine for all New Yorkers. The first set of new cart permits are targeted for the neighborhoods in the 100th, 101st, 103rd and 113th police precincts in Queens.

Rampant inflation on grocery aisles prompting citywide belt-tightening

With food prices soaring, dieting may be the only way to save money at the grocery store. The cost of basics like milk, bread, potatoes and bananas has jumped in the past year, forcing families to nix luxuries, steer away from organic goods and buy more house brands. "I think it's affecting everybody," said Elize Joseph, 48, a nursing attendant from Flatbush, Brooklyn. "To spend $40 on groceries is nothing. It doesn't go a long way". The weak dollar, rising cost of wheat, corn, soybeans and milk and higher energy and transportation costs have all contributed to driving prices up. According to the US Department of agriculture, eggs cost 25% more in February than they did a year ago, and milk and other dairy products jumped 13%, while chicken and other poultry rose nearly 7%. "You can cut back on buying clothes and shoes but you can't do that with food. You have to eat," Joseph said.

Complexity be damned: the Farm Bill explained

In just two days, the Farm Bill, one of the more complex and wide ranging pieces of legislation, will expire. The farm bill is made up of ten “titles” ranging from forestry and energy; credit and commodities; to nutrition and conservation. The nutrition title accounts for over half of total farm bill spending, most of which goes to food stamp and emergency food programs. Both House and Senate versions of the proposed farm bill would increase funding for nutrition and for the first time food stamps will be automatically adjusted to account for inflation. If an agreement on a new bill can't be reached before then, the U.S. will either revert to the only other permanent farm legislation it has in place, a bare-bones act from 1949, or wait until a new bill can be drafted next year. However, given the exponentially rising cost of food, increases in the food stamp program may not be enough for the millions of Americans living in food insecure households and the emergency food programs they turn to for help.

Food Costs Rising Fastest in 17 Years

The U.S. is wrestling with the worst food inflation in 17 years, and analysts expect it to only get worse. U.S. food prices rose 4 percent in 2007, compared with an average 2.5 percent annual rise for the last 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the agency says 2008 could be worse, with a rise of as much as 4.5 percent. For the poor, any increase in food costs sets up an either-or equation: Give something up to pay for food. For the poorest U.S. families, the higher costs may mean going hungry. A family of four is eligible for a maximum $542 a month in food stamps, which has never lasted the whole month, and now will last for even fewer days. And some economists believe that higher food prices may be here to stay.

State Cuts Hunger Funding by 16% Despite Current Food Crisis

Governor Dave Patterson and the State Legislature slashed funding for emergency food programs by 16% in the state budget passed on April 9. The decision, which hunger advocates call “unconscionable,” was also avoidable. The State Assembly had previously introduced a plan that would secure funding for emergency food by calling for either evenhanded taxing of state residents earning over one million dollars a year, or by decreasing funds for state-supported corporate welfare. Emergency food programs that receive state funding have already been hit by food shortages and unprecedented demand. These cuts are the latest blow in the ongoing struggle to secure food the millions of New Yorkers who experience food insecurity, while government policies continue to fuel the wealth of rich New Yorkers. Said NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg, “Had the State simply accepted the Assembly proposal to restore adequate taxation to the very wealthiest state residents or had the State reduced corporate welfare, it could have had plenty of money left over for true priorities such as fighting hunger, improving education, and making health care affordable. Once again, the State has very distorted priorities.”

Consumers Edit Grocery Lists as Prices Soar

Brooklyn grocery shoppers are relying on comparison shopping and product substitution to minimize increased grocery costs as food prices surge. One grocery store customer likened her continuing search for cheaper groceries to the practice of driving all the way to New Jersey for cheaper gas; while other customers have had to cut expensive items out of their diets, to be replaced with cheaper options like pasta and canned tuna. Staples like milk and eggs have been subject to the highest increases, with the cost of a gallon of milk rising 33 cents in the past month. Food stamp benefits have not been adjusted to reflect inflating prices, forcing many recipients to rely on overburdened soup kitchens and food pantries. Like individual consumers, emergency food programs are now rationing resources in order to make ends meet. The increase in food prices is expected to continue as the cost of grain surges, due in part to the demands of the rapidly expanding biofuels industry.

PBS Hunger Series Will Feature Brooklyn Pantry

Hanson Place Campaign Against Hunger, a food pantry in Fort Greene, will be featured on Bill Moyers Journal as part of an ongoing series on world hunger. The episode, which will air on PBS this Friday, April 11, at 9pm in the New York metro area, will address the food and resource shortages faced by emergency food programs in the U.S. The series analyzes the varied manifestations of hunger worldwide in an attempt to explain the political and social conditions that impede equitable food distribution. The first episode of the series, which can be viewed in it's entirety here, focused on relief efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where aid workers often resort to using bicycle teams to haul tons of food into villages because trucks can't handle the rough roads outside of Kinshasa. The series ultimately posits the plausibility of worldwide hunger relief only if international food policy and grassroots efforts are both orientated towards long-term, creative and sustainable solutions.

Bringing Food to the Presidential Race

Amid tense farm bill deliberation, an increased demand on emergency food programs and a failing economy, food policy has become an issue of universal significance. Yet discussion of food policy has been relegated to the edges of the current Presidential race. Acknowledging this lack of discussion, Alexandra Lewin, a Cornell Doctoral student has compiled Corporations, Health and the 2008 Presidential Race, which highlights each candidate’s relationship to the food industry; from voting records and public statements to disclosures of the amount each candidate has received from industry donors. The report focuses on health and nutrition programs, as well as local agriculture, with little emphasis on the federally-funded Food Stamps program. Lewin observes that none of the candidates have been openly critical of the food industry and that the advocates, journalists and voters should seize the Presidential race as an opportunity to force the candidate’s clarity on their food policy stances, thus pushing food and nutrition policy to the forefront of debate.

Executive Director Berg Urges Council’s Commitment to Anti-Hunger Initiatives

In his testimony before the New York State Council on Food Policy on April 3, Coalition Executive Director Joel Berg enumerated the Council’s responsibilities to the goal of alleviating hunger in New York City: a goal which has been impeded by current policies, dysfunctional food systems and barriers to the Food Stamp program. Berg urged the Council to end finger imaging for Food Stamp applicants, while concurrently expediting Food Stamp determinations and allowing applicants to apply online and by phone. “In just the city alone, failures in government policies are keeping food stamp benefits away from hundreds of thousands of low-income New Yorkers, depriving them of literally hundreds of millions of dollars in federal entitlement spending that could be going to feed their families. Much of that money could have also gone to the state’s small farmers and food processors,” he said. Berg further exhorted the Council to provide for universal, in-classroom school breakfasts, which would effectively combat childhood hunger while increasing academic performance among city children. These initiatives are dependent upon healthy food systems and federal policies, which go hand-in-hand to sustain nutrition education, farmer’s markets and food-related small businesses. Berg identified the Food Policy Council as a fundamental link between community projects and federal funding, whose action will be of great importance to the futures of the 1.3 million New Yorkers currently forced to rely on emergency food programs.

With Lack of Food Comes Loss of Choice

For emergency food programs and the growing numbers of customers forced to rely on them, the reality of under-funding and overwhelming need are accompanied by a steady erosion of their freedom of choice. For Linda Hill, pantry manager at the Morris Senior Center in the Bronx, this loss of choice means turning customers away with little more than a few apples or potatoes. The Food Bank for New York City, who provides food for Morris Senior Center and other city emergency food programs, is calling this the most severe shortage of resources in their 25-year history, as the amount of food they receive from both the government and private donors has dropped sharply. “It’s frustrating. We used to get 10-pound bags of chicken and ground beef. Not anymore. We have sauce but no spaghetti. You want to at least give them a meal,” says Hill. Emergency food providers are waiting to see whether Congress chooses to extend current farm bill provisions for the coming year, or to pass the new farm bill which could prevent shortages from getting worse. The farm bill, which would also slightly increase funding for the Food Stamp program, still falls short of offering the resources needed to end hunger. Until our representatives make that commitment, many more will face the choice between paying for necessary living expenses or for food.

Consistent Healthy Eating Linked to Academic Achievement

Kids who eat fruits and vegetables are likely to perform better on academic assessments, according to a new study published in the Journal of School Health. The study tracked the dietary habits of 5,000 fifth-graders whose diet quality was measured by their intake of essential nutrients like calcium, fiber and vitamin C, as well as their consumption of salt, saturated fat, and other problematic foods. The data was adjusted to account for sociodemographic data while also taking into account further quantifiable differences such as height and weight. Researchers found that students with higher quality diets were as much as 41% less likely to fail standard reading assessments than their peers with lower-quality diets. This study expands upon previously established links between breakfast consumption and school performance, and emphasizes the importance of consistent healthy eating, which is often unattainable for children living in food-insecure households. Researchers encouraged schools to emphasize nutrition and free meals programs, stating that “these findings support the broader implementation and investment in effective school nutrition programs that have the potential to improve student's diet quality, academic performance, and, over the long term, their health."

As Food Stamp Enrollment Rises, a Call for Accurate Benefits Levels

Amid economic instability, food stamp enrollment in the U.S. is expected to hit 28 million in the coming fiscal year, up from 27.8 million this year. 14 states have already reached record enrollment, while 40 reported an increase in recipients in the past year. Though food stamp enrollment in New York City has been on the rise for the past decade due to the positive influence of advocacy and the negative effect of a troubled economy, city food stamp participation is still 24% below peak enrollment in 1995. Nationwide the percentage of Americans receiving food stamps is currently less than during the 1990s recession, states are seeing enrollment numbers continue to rise as unemployment has increased and wages have stagnated. Rising food costs are concurrently threatening the spending power of food stamps and the resources of food banks. Some first-time food stamp recipients are finding that benefits will not be enough to cover their food costs, as the standard deduction used to calculate benefit levels, which was fixed in 1996, has not been adjusted for current inflation rates, despite the fact that the cost of feeding a family of four on a budget has risen 6% in the past year alone. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, by adjusting benefits levels to the current economy, a family of three would receive an average of $37 more in benefits a month: no small difference when the average benefit equals about $1 per person, per meal. Indexing of benefits, like much nutrition legislation, is bound in the fate of the farm bill, to be determined April 18.

Courts to Weigh In on Calorie-Posting Measure

The City Health Department has postponed a measure that would require chain restaurants to post calorie data for their menu items. The law, which was scheduled to take effect on Monday, March 31, will be tabled until April 15 to allow city courts time to rule on the plan’s legality. The New York State Restaurant Association sued the city in an attempt to stop the law’s passage, marking the second time in which the NYSRA has responded to proposed calorie-listing laws with judicial action. A Manhattan District Court scrapped a similar law in June of last year after the Restaurant Association cited the Food and Drug Administration's 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which exempted restaurants from labeling requirements applied to food manufacturers. City Health Commissioner Thomas Freidan has called the latest lawsuit, “a sad commentary on some restaurants’ business practices.”

Weathering the “Perfect Storm”

The current emergency food crisis has resulted from what America’s Second Harvest President Vicki Escarra calls “a perfect storm of hardship.” A rapidly declining economy coupled with drastic cuts in federal commodities since the passage of the 2002 Farm Bill has bred a sharp increase in the price of food. The inflation of food costs has made it harder for emergency food programs to obtain the food they need, while simultaneously increasing the demand on kitchens and pantries from individuals and families who have also been hit hard by the current economic downturn. With the price of staples like milk and eggs rising as much as 25% in the last year, many middle-class consumers are having to choose between groceries and mortgages; fuel or food. Farm bill provisions for food stamps should serve as a primary defense against growing hunger rates, but the farm bill, which also promised emergency food providers a possible financial port in the storm, has been stalled again as President Bush has promised to veto any bill that would rely on an increase in taxes. Current farm bill provisions have been extended to April 18^th, and Bush has called on Congress to extend the old farm bill for one year if a new bill has not been agreed upon by that date. Said Escarra, “A one year extension to the Farm Bill would be catastrophic for food banks and those they serve. The charitable sector does not have the capacity to meet dramatically increasing requests for food assistance. It is critical for Congress to show leadership by passing a Farm Bill, and for the President to show compassion by signing it.” The latest version of the farm bill allocates $250 million a year for state emergency food assistance, an increase from $140 million in the 2002 bill.

Questioning The Money Issue

In his March 23 response to the New York Times Magazine’s Money Issue, NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg questioned the wisdom of promoting philanthropy without thinking critically about the ways in which our society addresses social problems. The Money Issue profiled young philanthropists and celebrity donors, while emphasizing the ways in which business strategies and donors’ interests inform modern giving practices. In response, Berg contrasted American acceptance of unchecked wealth with the European strategy of channeling surplus wealth towards those social causes that society as a whole, rather than individual donors, deem most appropriate. As Berg observes, “such countries have stronger social safety nets and less homelessness and poverty than America.”

Michigan Misses the Mark with Push for Twice-Monthly Food Stamp Distribution

The Michigan Senate has approved a bill that could make it the first state to issue food stamps twice each month. Food stamp recipients generally receive disbursements at the beginning of each month and many run out of funds within two weeks. Michigan retailers report that 80% of their food stamp sales occur in the first ten days of the month. By disbursing food stamps twice a month, Michigan would ease retailers of the “first of the month crunch,” but would limit the spending freedom of food stamp recipients. “The problem isn’t food stamp’s recipients’ spending; the problem is that their benefits are too low,” said NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg. The national average food stamp benefit is equal to $21 a week, or $1 per person per meal. Like food stamp benefits, the future of the Michigan legislation is entangled in the fate of the farm bill, which could limit the ability of states to modify food stamp regulations.

A Little Knowledge, A Lot of Calories

Following the city’s successful ban on the use of trans fats in restaurants, the Board of Health voted in January to require all city restaurant chains to prominently display calorie information for their menu items. The vote was met with strong opposition from the New York State Restaurant Association who is suing the Board of Health for violations of free speech. The Restaurant Association has a history of successfully blocking calorie-posting measures issued by the Board of Health and has stalled the implementation of such measures since the early 1990s. The most recent regulation would require chains to list calories as prominently as item prices by March 31, 2008. Board of Health official Susan Baronberg stated: “about three-quarters of consumers say they look at calorie information on packaged food in supermarkets, and about half say that nutrition information affects what they choose to buy.” The Board hopes that the practice of informed deliberation will lead customers to make healthier decisions at chain restaurants.

Proposed Budget Cuts for Overburdened Emergency Food Programs

Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed city budget includes a $3.2 million cut in emergency food aid as part of a $235 million reduction in the funding for the Human Resources Administration. Bloomberg cites state and federal aid cutbacks as the impetus for these reductions. Councilman Bill de Blasio questioned the prudence of pulling funding from already-strained emergency food programs while the declining economy promises a future influx of more food pantry customers. The proposed cuts add insult to injury as the city continues to enforce finger-imaging requirements for food stamp applicants; a policy, which the state has allowed despite its recent waiver of finger-imaging requirements for working families, and which complicates the application process. Both the finger-imaging policy and the proposed cuts could further erode support networks for food insecure households.

Bringing Everyone to the Table: Increasing the Accessibility of Free School Meals

Only 29% of New York City public school students who are eligible for free lunch also receive free breakfast, compared to nearly 98% in Portland, Oregon and 93% in Newark. Participation has risen from 20.3% in the 2006-2007 school year, as NYCCAH has joined with city officials to increase awareness of this disparity. Research has repeatedly shown the positive effect of eating breakfast on school performance, and recent studies have shown that adolescents who eat breakfast regularly have a lower risk of obesity. Researchers stress the importance of teaching teens to eat breakfast, but for many, the accessibility of free school breakfast is marred by the stigma of accepting free meals, which affects the participation rates of free school meals programs nationwide. Said one San Francisco high school student, “kids who wear nice shoes and nice clothes don’t want to be associated with food that says ‘I’m not able to provide for myself.’” The Coalition has repeatedly stressed the importance of serving breakfast in the classroom so that participants do not have to be separated from their peers. Similar policies have been linked to rising participation rates in other urban school districts. This makes sense not only for students, but also for the city budget: “If only 70-percent of the children eligible for breakfast got them, that would bring 49-million-dollars more in federal funding to New York City because every single free and reduced priced breakfast is reimbursed by the federal government” said NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg.

Fight Over Funds Causes Farm Bill Deadlock

Congress has extended the farm bill deadline to April 18, allowing themselves more time to forestall President Bush’s threat of a veto. Though the $286 billion bill passed both houses of Congress, Bush has stated that he will not sign the current bill, as it relies on an increase in taxes to find its nutrition, crop and biofuels spending. Congress will spend the next two weeks trying to allocate funds for these spending increases, while drafting a baseline bill that would satisfy presidential demands. At stake in this compromise is the future level of funding for food stamps and the potential for an increase in individual food stamp benefits. Legislators from the House Agricultural Committee have stated that funds may be shifted in order to protect spending for nutrition programs, including food stamps. This is the second extension since the 2002 farm bill expired in September 2007. If a compromise is not reached by April 18, the President has asked congress to issue a one-year extension of the current bill.

Pantries and Kitchens Struggle to Serve as Rich Get Richer

As with many food pantries and soup kitchens across the city, the food program at St. Ann’s Church in the Bronx has experienced a dramatic increase in customers, and are stretching resources to meet the needs of over 500 people a week. As reported in NYCCAH’s 2007 Hunger Survey, over 88% of responding agencies in the Bronx reported feeding an increased number of customers in the last 12 months. As wages have been outpaced by inflation, more and more New Yorkers find themselves dependent on programs like St, Ann’s, who fail to receive the federal support to sustain their growing customer base. This influx comes at a time when wealthy New Yorkers are enjoying unprecedented prosperity. Said Coalition Executive Director Joel Berg, “when billionaires are able to dramatically increase their wealth because of massive federal tax cuts targeted to them, this drains revenues away from the government that could have otherwise been used to pay for programs that fight hunger.” In a city where the 64 wealthiest citizens have a greater combined wealth than the 1.7 million poorest, emergency feeding programs will continue to be stretched to their limits without immediate and direct federal intervention.

Consumer Pays Highest Price for Farm Penalties

Farmer Jack Hedin argues in a recent New York Times editorial that “consumers…will be dismayed to learn that the federal government works deliberately and forcefully to prevent the local food movement from expanding.” A vegetable farmer from Rushford Minnesota, Hedin was forced to pay federal fines and give up his federal subsidy after growing fruits and vegetables for a local natural food store on land that the government had allocated for corn. This federal backlash, Hedin argues, is an attempt to insulate produce giants in California, Florida and Texas from outside competition, leaving consumers either paying higher prices for lower-quality produce or stranded in produce “deserts” where they have little or no access to any fresh produce, as is increasingly the case in city neighborhoods.

Compromise Farm Bill Could Have Significant Effects on Hunger

Debate surrounding the reauthorization of the 2007 farm bill has drawn attention from hunger advocates to city planners, who acknowledge that much more than the livelihood of farmers and agricultural companies is bound up in this vote. For 25 million struggling families, the farm-bill reforms could launch the first increase in benefits since 1996, thus raising the average benefit above the current average of $1 per person per meal. The 2007 bill, which expires on March 15, has been subject to a central disagreement between congressional parties who have argued for increased funding, and the President, who has clearly stated that he will veto the bill if it requires a raise in taxes. All potential benefits for food stamp recipients rely on the ability of Congress and the President to reach a reasonable compromise.

City Council Victory in Push for Green Carts

City Council voted 37 to 9 on Wednesday, February 27^th to approve the Green Carts bill, which will provide permits for 1,000 produce vending carts in neighborhoods that currently lack access to fresh produce. Vendors will be allowed to sell in 34 police precincts where the need for fresh fruits and vegetables is greatest. Though the bill faced opposition from small grocers who feared competition from cart vendors, supporters cited an increased rate of obesity and diabetes in neighborhoods without produce access. Council Speaker Christine Quinn declared the bill “a huge step forward in our battle against obesity and it's a huge step forward in our efforts to combat hunger in New York." Mayor Bloomberg plans to sign the legislation, and Reuters claims that the carts may roll out as soon as the Spring.

Greenpoint Church Reacts to Neighborhood Need

It was the many knocks on the door of their apartment over Greenpoint Reform Church that convinced Rev. Jennifer Aull and her co-pastor Rev. Ann Kansfield that there was a need for an emergency food program in their neighborhood. Four months later, church members and volunteers now serve hot meals to 50 people a week and packaged food bags to 90. Like all nascent soup kitchens and food pantries, Greenpoint’s emergency food program must sustain itself through private funds for three to six months before being eligible to apply for food from the Food Bank or United Way. For volunteers and members of the church this early process, though challenging, has brought them closer to the needs of their community and customers. Said volunteer Christine Zounek, “These are the people I’ve been seeing on Greenpoint Avenue for 11 years, and now I know them all. I know all their names.”

Coalition Responds to Green Carts Opposition

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger questions the allegations made by President of the Korean-American Small Business Service Center of New York Sung Soo Kim who claimed in a press conference Thursday, that New Yorkers have “plenty of access to produce.” Soo remarked in opposition to the Green Carts bill, joining with other Korean small grocery store owners who are seeking to postpone a vote on the bill and enact further restrictions on Green Cart vendors, including a minimum distance between grocers and Green Carts.

NYCCAH Executive Director Joel Berg responded to this opposition, stating: “Food industry opponents have been basing their opposition on two arguments that diametrically contradict each other: 1) That few people will buy produce from the Green Carts because low-income people are just too ignorant to know their need more produce; and 2) So many low-income people will buy fresh produce from these carts that it will drive existing carts out of business. Logically, both arguments can't possibly be true. The Coalition's work in low-income neighborhoods proves to us that low-income people - who understand poor nutrition contributes to many diseases --desperately want fresh, affordable produce. I would hope the food industry would do more to meet, not dismiss, that need.”

City Council staffers are currently tweaking the Green Carts bill for a possible Wednesday, February 27 vote.

Consumers Face Unprecedented Increase in Food Costs

It’s no illusion that you’ve recently been paying more for a loaf of bread, and the USDA reports that the trend will continue. Industry insiders predict that the rising cost of food will outpace the general rate of inflation over the next two years, affecting the shopping and eating habits of a huge segment of Americans. As the price of corn and other grains has surged, livestock farmers have been forced to increase prices in order to absorb feeding costs. The USDA’s chief economist attributes this rapid inflation in part to the biofuel industry’s demand for corn, which has monopolized a portion of that market. To combat this tension between the demands for fuel and food, agricultural companies are funding new research in the hope of producing new high-yield corn seeds.

Neighborhoods Struggle as Number of New York Groceries Drops by 1/3

As climbing real-estate prices have forced neighborhood groceries across the city to close, many New Yorkers are rapidly losing access to fresh food sources. While high-end grocers have recently seen an increase in profits, the total number of supermarkets in the five boroughs has dropped by one third in the past six years. Grocers have been unable to absorb the soaring cost of rent, especially in areas of rapid real-estate development. The lack of local grocers has already led to higher rates of obesity and diabetes in Bronx neighborhoods, as residents turn to bodegas as their primary source of food. The city hopes to deter this trend by introducing Green Carts to struggling neighborhoods and encouraging bodegas to stock healthier products, while state officials have announced plans for a supermarket commission to address the needs of both grocers and food-scarce neighborhoods.

MLK Day Serve-A-Thon A Success!

The Coalition hosted its 5th Annual Martin Luther King Day Serve-A-Thon this past weekend at 30 soup kitchen and food pantries across New York City. Over the serve-a-thon's three days, approximately 400 volunteers participated in taking a "day on, not a day off" and donated their time and efforts in honor of the great Dr. King. Volunteers served food, packed pantry bags, painted, cleaned, distributed information on food stamps, and engaged in a variety of other tasks to boost food programs capacities. Dr. King said, "anybody can be great because anybody can serve." As one participant, Dominic Lounds observed about Dr. King's words , "More than just on a holiday, I think he wanted people to do it all the time. You've got to try and go out and do it as much as you can.” The serve-a-thon was covered by the Daily News, NY1, and News12 Brooklyn.

NYCCAH'S NEW Online Volunteer Matching System!

The Coalition has a new, pioneering volunteer matching website - nyccah.org/volunteermatching - that allows people to log on and search for anti-hunger volunteering opportunities by neighborhood, nearby subway stops, available times, personal skill sets, etc., to find the opportunities that fit them best. People with accounting, computer, development, law, and other special skills can use the system to "adopt" food pantries and soup kitchens that need assistance in those specific areas. The state-of-the-art system, which is one of the most advanced such systems in the nation, was launched at an event at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on Tuesday, January 1. Please take a moment to check it out today and see what volunteer opportunities are available!

'Green Carts' Initiative

On Tuesday, Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced their support for the Green Carts proposal, which calls for a phase in over two years of 1,500 City pushcart vendors that exclusively sell fresh fruits and vegetables. The carts will operate in areas throughout the five boroughs with low consumption of and limited access to fruits and vegetables. Some of those on the long waiting list for street vendor licenses will likely opt to sell fruits and vegetables instead of waiting to operate the usual and unhealthy hot dog/pretzel stand. The Bronx and Brooklyn, which have more food deserts, will receive the most permits.

Farm Bill Passes Senate

The Senate finally approved the 2007 Farm Bill with a 70-14 vote. The massive piece of legislation covers agricultural subsidies, conservation, as well as nutrition programs like the Food Stamp Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The new Senate bill expands investments in the Food Stamp Program and TEFAP. It raises household asset limits and indexes them, increases the indexing of the $10 minimum monthly benefit and the standard deductions for households with three or less, and boosts TEFAP commodities purchases. President Bush has threatened a veto, stating the bill is too costly - he also threatened a to veto the version passed by the house in July. Check out frac.org for updates on the 2007 Farm Bill.

Businesses Benefit from the Food Stamp Program

The Food Stamp program is advantageous to the businesses that accept EBT cards, as well as to those holding the cards. In the Lower East Side, a neighborhood that despite an influx of gentrifying people still has many poor residents, Viva Fruits and Vegetables in the Essex Market is just one example of a business benefiting from its participation in the Food Stamp program. Fresh and exotic produce is found at a bargain at the stand and in the market. The manager of Viva, Sobeida Delacruz, said "We get lots of EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer for food stamps) cards." Delacruz estimates that 70 percent of the stand's business comes from the food stamp program.

Elderly Face Hunger

A new study released today finds that more than one-third of the 1.3 million elderly in New York City are worried about not getting enough food. The Council of Senior Centers and Services conducted a survey of 802 elderly people in 15 communities across all five boroughs, of which 35% reported suffering from food insecurity - even with help from senior centers and emergency food pantries. Food insecurity among New York City's elderly exceeds national and state rates, and the number is only expected to increase with the growth of the aging population.

USDA Announces New, Revised WIC Food Packages

Today, the USDA announced a new revision to WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) food packages – the first one in nearly three decades. The new packages “will include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains,” according to the press release. Through WIC, low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women and women with infants and children up to age five receive health and social services referrals, nutrition education, and supplemental food.

Is Hunger A Crime?

New York State announced its continued agreement with New York City’s demand to keep finger-imaging in place for food stamp applicants. El Diario published an editorial written by Joel Berg, NYCCAH’s executive director, calling attention to the announcement and denouncing the continued insistence on finger-imaging - a practice that has not been found to significantly reduce fraud and instead deters eligible people from applying. The City spends nearly $800,000 yearly on finger-imaging, while in 2006 only 31 cases of fraud were detected through finger-imaging out of 1.1 million people.

2007 Survey Findings Released at Events in all 5 boroughs!

The Coalition released its report on its 2007 Annual Hunger Survey at City Hall the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, as well as at a series of events at food pantries and soup kitchens in all five boroughs. The City Hall event was in conjunction with leading New Yorkers - Council Speaker Christine Quinn, HRA Commissioner Robert Doar, NYC food policy coordinator Ben Thomases, Councilmembers Bill de Blasio, Eric Gioia, Annabel Palma , James Vacca, Letitia James, Jessica Lappin, and executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Joel Berg.

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, State Senator John Sabini, and Queens Councilmember Eric Gioia attended the Queens specific press event at East River Development Alliance/Center of Hope International Bread of Life Food Pantry. In Brooklyn, borough president, Marty Markowitz, attended the press event at Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger food pantry.

The survey release was covered by the NYTimes, Metro NY, AM New York, NY Daily News, Times Ledger, NY1, News12 Bronx, WNYC, Bloomberg News, BBC World Service, and by over 35 foreign media outlets across the world, including Taiwan's The China Post, Slovakia's Bleskovky paper, Angola Press, and Brazil's Globo News - just to name a few. Here is a complete list.

NYCCAH's Annual Hunger Survey 2007 Findings - Rising Food Lines, Sinking Economy

The Coalition Against Hunger conducted its Annual Hunger Survey of soup kitchens and food pantries across New York City. The Coalition’s full survey report, Rising Food Lines, Sinking Economy: Increase in NYC Hunger is Early Proof of Economic Slow-Down, found that the number of people forced to use these programs soared in 2007, while food stocks declined forcing more than half of the programs to ration food.

The Coalition's survey estimated that food pantry and soup kitchen use increased by 20% in 2007, on top of an 11% increase in 2006 estimated in last year's survey.Fully 59% of agencies – a record number – said they lacked the resources to meet their growing demand in 2007, a sharp increase from the 48% who lacked such resources in 2006.

City to Give $1M to Soup Kitchens

Mayor Bloomberg announced that the City will give soup kitchens and food pantries $1 million extra funding and will provide a new 311 system for hunger assistance that will be staffed by city workers, instead of being automated. The mayor said that the money is coming from the federal government as part of the bonus the city earned by boosting food stamp program numbers. The 311 operators will handle calls about emergency food between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 3 p.m. Saturdays.

$5M Boost in State Funding to Food Banks

Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a $5 million boost in state funding to help restock the shelves of strained food banks across New York state during the holiday season. Spitzer made a visit to Bowery Mission in Manhattan on Wednesday; United Way of NYC will receive the largest portion of funding at $1,245,600. Decreases in private donations and in federal funding like TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) have contributed to drastic shortages at food banks across the state. As seen in the Coalition Against Hunger's 2007 Annual Hunger Survey, the current economic slump is not only decreasing private donations, it is increasing the number of people in need. Emergency food programs are able to purchase much more with a dollar than the average consumer as they are able to buy in bulk at low rates; if you wish to contribute to your local food agencies, please consider making a monetary donation!

NYCCAH's Website "Inspiring and Beautiful"

NYCCAH's website was included in a list of "Ten inspiring and beautiful non-profit Web designs" on the blog d'bug. The Coalition's current website was created and designed by former NYCCAH VISTA, David Hsia- thanks Dave!

"These ten registered charitable organizations are not only doing their part to enhance the quality of life for all humankind, but they are encouraging others to get involved through inspiring Web designs that communicate a clear message."

Hunger and the Farm Bill - Joel's NY Times Editorial!

Read Joel's excellent editorial on the Farm Bill published in the New York Times here. The Coalition's executive director responded to Michael Pollan's recent editorial in which Pollan referred to conservation programs and the food stamp program as mere "fleas".

The Farm Bill Has Fleas?

This Sunday's New York Times featured an op-ed article by Michael Pollan, Weed It and Reap, in which Pollan states his concerns with the current Farm Bill. Pollan,author of the New York Times bestseller The Omnivore's Dilemma, views the 2007 Farm Bill as continuing "in the traditional let-them-eat-high-fructose-corn-syrup mold." The massive piece of legislation that is the Farm Bill covers a wide variety of interests and has engendered strong feelings and differences of opinion as it comes up for vote in the Senate. NYCCAH's Joel Berg responds to some of Pollan's more pointed comments:

"Michael Pollan claims that environmentalists and the “hunger lobby” are bought off in the farm bill, giving our support to the harmful “elephant in the room” – agribusiness subsidies — in exchange for funding for conservation programs and food stamps, which he derides as merely “fleas.”

But blaming us for bad farm bills is like blaming long-suffering Mets fans – seated in the far upper deck at Shea Stadium – for the team’s overpaid players and year-end collapses.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, agribusinesses contributed more than $399 million to federal political campaigns between 1990 and 2006. In contrast, even when some anti-hunger groups (such as mine) risk alienating donors by opposing corporate farm welfare, we hardly impact this big-money debate.

Considering that the Food Stamp Program helps more than 26 million Americans each month, it is no mere “flea.” Fighting to help millions avoid starvation, anti-hunger advocates take what we can get.

Mr. Pollan betrays his class bias in saying that processed food is not “real food.” While I agree with him that we shouldn’t be subsidizing sugared cereals and candy, his blanket condemnation of food processed by machines seems based on the assumption that working Americans have nothing better to do than mill their own flour, grind their own corn, make their own apple sauce, or create their own peanut butter from scratch.

He implies that the hunger problem in America would be magically solved if the government merely stopped subsidizing corn and other commodities which incur his wrath. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 35 million Americans live in homes that face food insecurity, unable to afford enough food even with today’s low prices for subsidized commodities. Thus, while Pollan’s proposal to reduce the disparity between prices for produce and those of other agricultural products would certainly improve nutrition for some, it would do little to aid the poorest, hungriest Americans.

To truly help that population, we need to return to an America in which people earned enough through full-time work to be able to feed their families. Until that time, we still need a stronger and better-funded Food Stamp Program."