Council on Hunger and Food Policy

Per Feeding America, in New York State, over 2,261,000 people are faced with hunger. Of that number, more than 732,000 are children. Though often overlooked, people who struggle with hunger are in our own communities, workplaces, schools, and more. Of every nine individuals, one is confronted with hunger, and for every six children, one is faced with that same reality. Nutrition assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), School Breakfast Program, Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and so many more have helped to tackle food insecurity in New York State. Though these initiatives have been widely successful, food insecurity in New York State prevails, causing an urgent need for innovative programs, efforts, policies, and ideas to address this pressing issue.

The New York State Council on Hunger and Food Policy (the “Council”) convenes to provide state policymakers with expertise on how to address food security and provide New York State residents with greater access to healthy, locally-grown food every day. Since its creation, the Council’s identity has evolved several times as a recognized group convening to support the work of New York State government on the issue of food insecurity.

Recognizing the value of input and discussion by knowledgeable stakeholders, the Council was first developed via executive order in 2007 as the Food Policy Council, which was tasked with providing input on government food-related policy decisions. In January 2011, the Council evolved into the New York State Council on Food Policy via another executive order, and was later merged with the New York State Anti-Hunger Task Force, which had been created in 2013 to research issues related to hunger and to develop recommendations for the State to consider.

Since 2016, the current New York State Council on Hunger and Food Policy, chaired by Commissioner Ball, provides guidance to state policymakers on how to best address hunger and improve access to healthy, locally-grown food for all New York State residents. Council members include experts and leaders in the fields of agriculture, food policy, hunger prevention, and healthcare.

In November 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul approved the bills (S.549-B and A.3954-B) that codified the existence and purpose of the Council on Hunger and Food Policy, so it no longer operates under executive order. Cited as the “local food, farms, and jobs act,” A.3945-B directs the Council to develop comprehensive, coordinated state food policies with the goal of ensuring all citizens of the state are able to eat a healthy diet and avoid food insecurity while consuming as many New York grown and produced foods as possible. The legislation formalized the Council and current membership to ensure continuation of the Council’s important work.

On March 3, 2023, Governor Hochul signed the New York State Assembly bill A.00615 (equivalent to Senate bill S.00829), which amended Chapter 645 of the Laws of 2022 to clarify the provisions relating to the establishment and priorities of the Council on Hunger and Food Policy.

The members of the Council on Hunger & Food Policy are:

• Commissioner Richard Ball, New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets*
• Allison Stark, on behalf of Commissioner Hope Knight, Empire State Development*
• Gemma Rinefierd, on behalf of Commissioner Betty A. Rosa, New York State Education Department*
• Amy Gildemeister, on behalf of Commissioner James McDonald, New York State Department of Health*
• Susan Zimet, on behalf of Acting Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance*
• Greg Olsen, New York State Office for the Aging*
• Karen Erren, Feeding Westchester, appointed on the recommendation of the Senate President*
• Justin Rogers, Cornell Cooperative Extension, appointed on the recommendation of the Senate Minority*
• Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz, Stony Brook University, Food Lab, appointed on the recommendation of the Assembly Speaker*
• Richard de Graff, Grindstone Farm, appointed on the recommendation of the Assembly Minority*
• Joel Berg, Hunger Free America*
• Jeff Crist, Crist Brothers Orchards*
• Mitch Gruber, Foodlink*
• Leslie Gordon, Food Bank for NYC*
• Susan Jaffe, Snowdance Farms*
• Jerome Nathaniel, City Harvest*
• Natasha Pernicka, The Food Pantries for the Capital District/The Alliance for a Hunger Free New York*
• Dr. Melony Samuels, The Campaign Against Hunger*
• Julie Suarez, Cornell University*
• Renée St. Jacques, New York Farm Bureau*
• Steve  Terzo, American Dairy Association and Dairy Council*
• Marcel Van Ooyen, Grow NYC*
• Andres Vives, Hunger Solutions New York*
• Ellie Wilson, Price Chopper Supermarkets*
• Commissioner Suzanne Miles-Gustave, New York State Office of Children and Family Services
• Nicholas Barber, New York State Office of General Services
• Natalie Birch-Higgins, New York State Dept. of State/Office for New Americans
• Dana Cohen, New York State Office of Mental Health
• Kristine Ellsworth, New York State Department of Environmental Conversation
• Liz Hradil, New York State Dept. of State/Office for New Americans
• Merrill Rotter, New York State  Office of Mental Health
• Gabrielle Viens, New York State Office of General Services
• Andrew Barrett, New York State Health Foundation
• Nichole Borchard, Field and Fork Network
• Grace Bonilla, United Way of NYC
• Mark Bordeau, Food Bank of the Southern Tier
• Allison DeHonney, Buffalo Go Green
• Tessa Edick, FarmOn! Foundation
• Dan Egan, Feeding NYS
• Kathleen Finlay, Glynwood Regional Center for Food and Farming
• Camesha Grant, Food Bank for NYC
• David Greenfield, Met Council
• Krista Hesdorfer, Hunger Solutions New York
• Caitlin Lazarski, New York School Nutrition Association
• Tashara Leak, Cornell University
• Julia McCarthy, New York State Health Foundation
• Kristen McManus, American Association of Retired Persons
• Angela Odoms Young, Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Randi Shubin Dresner, Island Harvest Food Bank
• Larry Tse, National Young Farmers Coalition & Choy Commons
• Karen Washington, Rise & Root Farm
• Laura Gonzalez-Murphy, NYS Dept. of State/Office for New Americans
• Robert Deschak, NYC Department of Education, School Fund
• Commissioner Ann Sullivan, OMH
• Kate VanTassel, NYS Homes and Community Renewal
• Fran Barrett, Governor's Office
• Viviana DeCohen, Division of Veterans Affairs
• Liz Ward, New York State Health Foundation
• Director Rachel Sabella, No Kid Hungry New York
• Commissioner Jeanette Moy, OGS

*This member serves in a formal capacity per the requirements of Section 16 of the Agriculture and Markets Law.

No members of this board receive payment of expenses or other compensation in the performance of their duties as members.