Good Food NY Bill Passes NYS Legislature, headed back to Gov Hochul’s Desk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Ribka Getachew-McLean
(646) 386-1679
rgetachew@foodadvocates.org
Jessica Gilbert-Overland
(716) 324-6723
jessica@goodfoodbuffalo.org
FARMERS, UNIONS, AND LOCAL FOOD LEADERS URGE GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO SIGN GOOD FOOD NY BILL
New York farms are at a crisis point: The Good Food NY bill would expand access to markets, support food and farm economy jobs, and keep public food dollars in-state.
Albany, NY (June 4, 2026) — Farmers, labor unions, food system leaders, municipalities, and food councils across New York State invite Governor Hochul to partner with them in strengthening NY's food economy by signing the Good Food NY Bill (S.7638B / A.8091B). Passed with overwhelming support in the NYS legislature this week, this landmark legislation would remove one of the largest structural barriers for New York farms to sell to their local public institutions, updating outdated food procurement laws that award contracts to the lowest bidder at the expense of NY farms, jobs, and communities.
The New York State Comptroller’s Office recently identified direct-to-institution purchasing as a key opportunity to strengthen farm viability and increase in-state food sales. Under current procurement law, municipalities are forced to award food contracts to the lowest bidder in most cases, even when local farms, unionized producers, or regional suppliers can meet these same contracts within a 10% threshold of the lowest bid—all while upholding stronger labor, environmental, or animal welfare practices that generate long-term benefits for New York communities.
Once signed by Governor Hochul, the Good Food NY Bill would equip municipalities with the freedom to:
Prioritize purchasing from New York farmers rather than defaulting to the lowest bidder
Pay up to 10% more for New York products
Consider factors such as local economic impact, workforce standards, environmental sustainability, and supply chain resilience in procurement decisions
The Good Food NY Bill comes at a crisis point for New York agriculture. Agriculture supports more than 160,000 jobs across New York State, yet nearly 14% of farms have ceased operations over the past decade, and that number has sharply increased in the past five years. Rising costs and climate instability continue to place enormous pressure on farms across the state while federal cuts threaten local food purchasing programs and destabilize regional farm economies.
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, prime sponsor of the Good Food NY Assembly bill, said: “The Good Food NY Bill gives New York’s public institutions the ability to support our own farmers, workers, and regional economies by removing a barrier that has too often locked local producers out of institutional markets. At a time when farms across New York are struggling to stay afloat, this bill will help keep farms in business by creating more stable, reliable markets for New York producers. I urge Governor Hochul to sign this critical legislation into law.”
"Our Good Food NY bill will make New York the first state in the country to adopt a values-based food procurement model that prioritizes serving healthy, New York-grown food to New Yorkers in our schools, hospitals, and all public institutions. By signing our bill into law, Governor Hochul can help us expand markets for New York farmers, strengthen local economies, and help communities across the state contribute to building a more equitable and resilient food system. I thank Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes and the Good Food NY Coalition for their partnership in getting this bill across the finish line in both houses. We urge the Governor to sign the Good Food NY bill into law,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and prime sponsor of the Good Food NY bill.
The bill reflects extensive input from the agricultural community across the state, including farmers and Farm Bureau members, producer organizations, labor unions, institutional partners, and local governments. "The Good Food NY Bill takes an important step forward in municipal purchasing for NY-grown ingredients,” said Dillon Klepetar, Farm Advocate at the Adirondack Council and Owner of Echo Farm. “State flexibility for local food procurement can help bolster New York farmers and provide nutritious meals within and for the groups served by state organizations. The fiscal return on investment will be seen in rural communities and small businesses, with revenues elsewhere in the state budget."
A resilient food system is one in which farmers and workers both thrive. Farmers need stable markets and fair pricing, and farmworkers need safe conditions and their rights respected. These should be seen as complementary, not competing priorities, and this bill delivers on both.
“Farmers across New York have consistently called for access to reliable markets, fair pricing, and the ability to compete with out-of-state producers,” said Ribka Getachew-McLean, Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign at Community Food Advocates. “The Good Food NY Bill creates a practical path forward that allows public institutions to invest in New York agriculture to keep public dollars circulating in local economies, strengthen regional supply chains, support good jobs across our food systems, and promote responsible animal welfare practices.”
“New York communities spend hundreds of millions feeding students, seniors, and families through public institutions. Yet cities are often forced to accept a bidder who may push additional costs back onto our communities. Focusing solely on the lowest bid may encourage low wages, quota increases to unsustainable line speeds, and health and safety concerns for workers. The Good Food NY Bill would finally allow municipalities to prioritize local farms, worker protections, environmental sustainability, and nutrition into local food service contracting so we can move closer to a just and sustainable economy," said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
“Public institutions spend billions of taxpayer dollars each year to feed New Yorkers in schools, hospitals, senior centers, shelters, and child care centers. Our food procurement systems should support New York farmers who uphold strong labor standards and safe working conditions, instead of rewarding the lowest possible price at any cost. The Good Food NY bill will ensure that public dollars strengthen local economies, and create a food system that values workers, farmers, and their communities," says Henry Garrido, Executive Director of District Council 37 AFSCME and NYS Good Food Purchasing Coalition Member.
At the time of bill passage in the state legislature, multiple jurisdictions across New York State have already passed resolutions or expressed mayoral support for the bill, including New York City, Buffalo, Kingston, Tompkins County, and Schenectady County. Once signed into law, this bill would enable these municipalities to more fully align purchasing practices with local food goals while opening pathways for additional municipalities to participate.
“With billions of dollars spent on food through public institutions each year, it is long past time that municipalities have the flexibility to prioritize quality, support local producers, and ensure the food being served to New Yorkers meets a higher standard,” said Council Member Amanda Farías. “I was proud to carry Resolution 183 in the New York City Council, calling on the State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.7638-B/A.8091-B, and this week, that effort has cleared a major hurdle. I am optimistic that Governor Hochul will recognize the value of legislation that expands opportunities for New York farmers, keeps taxpayer dollars invested in local economies, and gives public institutions greater flexibility to provide higher-quality food to the students, seniors, patients, and families who depend on these meals every day.”
Jessica Gilbert-Overland, Director and Co-Founder of the Good Food Buffalo Coalition adds, “Imagine if public institutions could reinvest the millions spent on food every year into a local food economy that meets our communities' needs. The Good Food NY Bill does this by finally giving municipalities the legal tools to ensure that food procurement supports New York farmers, workers, consumers, animals, and the environment. Our public dollars should be accountable to our communities, not the cheapest bidders. I urge Governor Hochul to sign this critical legislation into law.”
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About the NYS Good Food Purchasing Coalition
The New York State Good Food Purchasing Coalition comprises more than 100 grassroots leaders, farmers, labor advocates, food workers, public health organizations, and community-based organizations working to strengthen public food procurement policies across New York State. The coalition is led by Community Food Advocates, a New York nonprofit organization working to ensure all New Yorkers have access to healthy, affordable, and culturally affirming food.
For more information about the Good Food NY Bill, please contact Ribka Getachew-McLean, Director of the NY Good Food Purchasing Program Campaign, at rgetachew@foodadvocates.org.