Senator Kristen Gillibrand toured the new Healthy Living Market in Wilton Mall in Saratoga Springs, New York and announced new legislation that would expand markets for farmers and increase the availability of nutritious locally grown food for consumers. Healthy Living Market works extensively with local farmers and producers, so it was a natural fit that the Senator would announce her plans to support the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act while visiting the store.
The proposed act would help New York farmers, and farmers in Saratoga County. The act addresses production, aggregation, marketing and distribution needs while helping consumer’s access and afford fresh, nutritious food. The goal of the legislation is to create jobs by assisting farmers engaged in local and regional agriculture by addressing production, aggregation, processing, marketing, and distribution needs.
Senator Gillibrand is the first New Yorker in four decades to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee. While at Healthy Living Market, she remarked that: “This legislation would promote sustainable agriculture, expands access to credit and markets for Capital Region and New York farmers, and increases access to local, affordable fresh produce for our communities.” This legislation will provide more secure funding for critically important programs that support family farms, expand new farming opportunities, and invest in the local agriculture economy.
Local and regional agriculture is a major economic driver in the New York economy. In Saratoga County there are 650 farms, of all types, which provide locally grown and nutritious food to the community. The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act will support job creation by improving federal farm bill programs that support local and regional farm and food systems.
Senator Gillibrand was met with approval from Justine Denison, of Denison Farm in Schaghticoke, New York, who commented, “I appreciate the dedicated work and on-going support Senator Gillibrand demonstrates for local farms in the Capital Region.”
Have you been to Healthy Living Market? What do you think of Senator Gillibrand’s announcement?
