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New York City ’s FoodWorks design aims to transform the metropolis ’s food systems to make local food more accessible and sustainable .
“ New York state is home to over 36,000 farms and 7 million acres of farmland . We grade second in Malus pumila production — get more than enough to meet our local requirement . Yet we still import apple from Washington and orchard apple tree juice from China , ” say New York City councilwoman Christine C. Quinn .
That ’s a startling statement to the close locavore . Quinn is calling for alteration to New York ’s food organisation , and she ’s start up with the Big Apple . On Nov. 22 , 2010 , she unveiled a recollective - full term comprehensive design called FoodWorks , which aims to transmute the metropolis ’s intellectual nourishment systems through program that range from combating hunger and corpulency to preserve regional farming and local - food for thought manufacturing to fall waste and energy custom .
“ It ’s a real milestone that NYC ’s City Council has developed such a comprehensive and visionary papers that recognizes critical linkages between farm and metropolis , ” tell Jill Isenbarger , executive director of Stone Barns Center , a farm and didactics centre 30 mi north of New York City . “ Having this conversation in such a salient sphere is a major first footstep . ”
Part of what FoodWorks will do is conduct the city in inflate urban and regional food product . The programme breaks down into many facets for cultivate New Yorkers about where their food for thought make out from and making local intellectual nourishment accessible through lucubrate space for urban farms , supportingfarmers ’ marketsandcommunity - supported husbandry , and encouraginggreen roofsand community gardens .
Isenbarger is excited about FoodWorks ’ plan to make the connection between food and agriculture real for people .
“ It ’s a furtive and effective style of carrying out nutrition education , pore on the freshest possible , just - harvested nutrient , simple recipes and capital taste , ” she say . “ FoodWorks marriage proposal to promote such programs will make an crucial difference in New Yorkers ’ diets . ”
However , food output is just the first step in FoodWorks ’ comprehensive plan .
Once the food for thought has been produced , Quinn tell between 80 and 90 percent of all food in the U.S. goes through some form of processing . FoodWorks aims to accomplish better regional processing by clear more low-priced manufacturing space usable and by providing more expert assistance to food manufacturers .
Then , by diversifying and better food ecstasy , FoodWorks strives to better nutrient dispersion and lessen carbon emissions .
“ In parliamentary procedure for food to get from the farm to your board , it has to move through a complex connection of storage warehouse and markets , highways and geartrain station , ” say Quinn . “ During that time , a draw of our food has crisscrossed the land or circled around the globe . ”
Specifically , FoodWorks proposes to reformulate the Hunts Point create Market , increase rail service through the Hunts Point Distribution Center — the world ’s largest food distribution center — transmute the distribution center into a hub for metropolis - broad food system improvement , and pinpoint the city ’s best nutrient distribution routes .
These step all fall together to meet one of FoodWorks ’ most critical goal : create a salubrious food surroundings .
“ decently now , there are neighborhoods around the city with such little access to healthy food — they’re known as food deserts , ” Quinn says . “ Go to Jamaica , Queens , Central Brooklyn or the South Bronx . You ’ll see bodega and fast - food junction on every corner , but very few supermarkets or healthy restaurants . ”
FoodWorks marriage offer include expand food for thought co-op , supporting food electric outlet with impudent and levelheaded food , and discourage profligate - intellectual nourishment using up and unhealthful intellectual nourishment uptake .
By providing the FoodWorks organisation blueprint , Isenbarger believes the metropolis will be positively strike .
“ As FoodWorks proposals become enacted , more and more metropolis residents may modernise a new understanding or change their awareness of our food system — and the incredible inter - relatedness of food and Department of Agriculture to other city fear , such as jobs and wellness , ” she say .
