Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
AGENCY TESTIMONY
Food access programs and zoning initiatives
0:22:06
ยท
3 min
Kate MacKenzie outlines various food access programs and zoning initiatives aimed at improving access to healthy and affordable food in New York City.
- Describes the Shop Healthy NYC program and its impact on nutritious food options
- Explains the FRESH (Food Retail Expansion to Support Health) program and its incentives
- Highlights recent zoning changes through City of Yes for economic opportunity
- Mentions the network of farmers markets and emergency food providers
- Introduces the food access and affordability work group launched by the mayor's office
Kate MacKenzie
0:22:06
So certainly cold storage makes fresh produce more accessible and multiple access points to healthy and affordable food is the primary goal of FoodForward, FoodForward, whether through traditional supermarkets, farmers markets, bodegas, street vendors, or through the city's emergency food network.
0:22:24
2,000 stores across the city participate in the health department's shop healthy NYC, which increases nutritious options in neighborhoods that otherwise have little access to healthy foods.
0:22:37
The fresh program, food retail expansion program to support health, supports the development of full service grocery stores in low income areas by providing both zoning and tax incentives to property owners and supermarket operators.
0:22:53
The tax incentive program is administered by the New York City Industrial Development Agency and the zoning benefit is administered by the Department of City Planning.
0:23:03
To qualify for the IDA benefits, supermarkets must make capital investments into or existing space, dedicate 30% of retail space to perishable goods, and devote at least 500 square foot feet of retail space to fresh produce.
0:23:21
Currently there are 43 IDA and DCP fresh supermarkets open and 17 more in development.
0:23:31
Through zoning, we can attract supermarkets as well as other food businesses.
0:23:36
Recent zoning changes through City of Yes for economic opportunity allow food production and processing in storefront space for the first time.
0:23:46
These new regulations could facilitate multi use food spaces.
0:23:50
City of Yes is building on increasing commercial vitality.
0:23:55
According to a DCP report last November, more than 70% of neighborhoods across the city have seen an increase in food and drink businesses since 2020, providing more options where New Yorkers can eat.
0:24:09
Our city's soft infrastructure provides additional food access points.
0:24:13
The network of farmers markets that serve as access points for regionally sourced fruits and vegetables and the network of more than a thousand emergency food providers creates an essential safety net of support that connects some of our most vulnerable neighbors to quality healthy food.
0:24:30
Given the complexity of access and affordability, mayor's office of food policy launched a food access and affordability work group last June which convened city agencies, our academic institutions, public health foundations, and community partners to coordinate information sharing.
0:24:48
A report later this spring from this work group will outline immediate priorities.
0:24:53
This effort is part of the health department's chronic disease prevention plan and will shed light into how food pricing, retail environments, and the choices and behaviors that New Yorkers have the ability to make purchase make and purchase healthy food.