SEN. FARLEY REPORTS SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO BOOST LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PURCHASES

State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) reported that he and his colleagues in the New York State Senate recently passed the “Buy From the Backyard Act” to promote the purchase of locally grown and produced food. The bill (S978) would require that state agencies allocate 20 percent of their total contracts for food from within New York State.

The bill expands upon an existing law, which creates a program that encourages the purchase of local food products by state agencies. Mental health facilities, prisons, universities and state institutions that have food contracts would need at least 20 percent of the purchases to be grown, produced, harvested or processed in New York State.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.