Legislature Passes Resolution Calling for Signing of the Good Food NY Bill
Syracuse, N.Y. — Legislators Ellen Block (District 5) and David Knapp (District 12) sponsored a bipartisan food-access resolution calling on the Governor to sign the Good Food NY Bill. The resolution was discussed earlier this month during the Legislature’s Planning & Economic Development Committee. The Good Food NY Bill (S.7638.B in the Senate and A.8091.B in the Assembly) allows municipalities to bypass the “lowest bidder” requirement for food contracts. Cities and towns can instead award contracts to vendors who fulfill standards aligned with the organization’s values, such as prioritizing sourcing from New York farms.
“The high rate of food insecurity across Onondaga County is a pressing issue,” Leg. Ellen Block said. “Our bill calls upon the Governor to sign the Good Food Bill. The extra funds we would receive from the state would strengthen our County in numerous ways – from supporting small farming businesses to supporting children and families by introducing additional food into the supply chain at a time when budget cuts put unnecessary strain on those who need help the most. As we are soon to enter a new school year, the sooner NY state can adopt the Good Food bill, the sooner we can begin work to champion Onondaga County locals.”
Even if the bid is up to 10% higher than the lowest responsible bidder, it strengthens opportunities for local farmers and providers to engage and sell directly to large municipal buyers like school districts. The reinvestment of public dollars ensures more localized control over food quality and helps local government mitigate rising costs related to tariffs and supply chain pressures.
Legislator Knapp, a cosponsor on the resolution, noted during session that current state purchasing rules often favor large national suppliers, making it difficult for local farms and producers to compete. One “glaring example,” he said, is that school districts in Onondaga County are required to buy apples from Washington State despite the abundance of high‑quality New York apples grown just miles away.
“Access to healthy, local, food is an issue that touches every individual. As elected officials, it is our job to find creative solutions to support our community’s health and economy. The Good Food bill is good for Onondaga County farmers and for our local economy,” said Leg. Knapp.
The call to pass the Good Food New York bill builds on New York State’s existing “Farm‑to‑School” support, which provides additional funding for districts to purchase food locally. By aligning county policy with state incentives, the measure would help schools bring more fresh, local products into their cafeterias, benefiting both students and family farms across Central New York.
Food Access amid Inflation
More than one in five adults in Onondaga County currently identify as food insecure, meaning they are unsure where their next nutritious meal will come from. The City of Syracuse continues to face the highest rate of food insecurity in New York State, and thousands of children across the county qualify for free or reduced‑price school meals. Last summer, the Food Bank of Central New York stepped in to serve more than 21,000 meals at 17 sites across Onondaga and a neighboring county. These realities highlight the urgent need to strengthen local food systems and expand access to healthy, community‑sourced food.
“Combating food insecurity and strengthening the local economy can go hand‑in‑hand. We can ensure that children have access to healthy meals and support area farmers by locally reinvesting public dollars,” said Leg. Elaine Denton (District 10), Chair of the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
After being discussed in the Planning & Economic Development Standing Committee and introduced during session, the resolution was passed with 16 votes in favor and 1 member abstaining due to a conflict of interest. Legislators Brown, Garland, Romeo, Thompson, Eriksen,
Denton, and Bush signed on as co-sponsors from the floor.
WHAT WE’RE HEARING
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes says “..this bill will help keep farms in business by creating more stable, reliable markets for New York producers.” (Advocates, 2026)
Senator Michelle Hinchey says “Good Food NY bill will [bring] New York-grown food to New Yorkers in ourschools, hospitals, and all public institutions.” (Advocates, 2026)
Legislator David Knapp says “This bill will improve the county by improving availability of high-quality food while supporting local businesses”
Micah Orieta, SOFSA says “Through our work, we see firsthand how public food procurement decisions shape health outcomes, economic opportunity, labor standards, animal welfare and environmental sustainability. With millions of dollars at stake, procurement decisions significantly shape institutional markets and food systems and must be transformed to deliverable, measurable public benefit.” (Legislature Public Comments, 2026).