Mission

The mission of the Food Systems Network NYC is to promote food systems that:
• Support improved nutrition and public health.
• Increase access for all to safe and wholesome food.
• Strengthen and expand the regional farm and food economy.
The purpose of the Food Systems Network NYC is to:
• Better meet nutritional needs and prevent hunger among New York City residents by expanding access, whenever possible, to fresh regional farm and food products.
• Educate New York City residents and officials about the economic, civic, health and environmental benefits of regional farm and food products.
• Foster collaboration on projects supporting the mission of the Food Systems Network NYC.
Through networking and collaboration, Food Systems Network NYC:
1. Supports and increases access to fresh and healthy food in all neighborhoods by providing technical assistance to government agencies and community stakeholders.
2. Advocates for and works with government agencies and the private sector on their program and policy objectives to:
• adopt a food system planning perspective
• increase financial resources allocated to improve food systems
• address the gaps and imbalances in the food system
• improve the distribution of nutritious regionally produced farm and food products
• reduce barriers to the use of government nutrition assistance programs
• foster food and agricultural enterprise development that meets community needs.
3. Promotes and facilitates the purchasing of regional farm and food products by public and private institutions, not-for-profit community-based organizations, emergency food providers, food service and other businesses.
4. Is developing a public education and outreach program to support the mission of the FSN. The program plans to include: an automated telephone referral service, publications, consultation services, a speaker's bureau and workshops designed for community boards, neighborhood groups and others.
5. The Network hopes to catalyze innovative pilot projects and research that address gaps and imbalances in the New York City food system utilizing member resources whenever possible.