Policy-makers play a key role in uplifting our local food system so that it works for all people in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Onondaga Nation. Through a survey, SOFSA asked this year’s election candidates about how they support a healthy Central New York food system and where they stand on specific food policy issues. We reached out to candidates with publicly available email addresses running for the following seats on the November 8, 2022 ballot: Governor of New York, Lieutenant Governor of New York, NYS Assembly, NYS Senate, U.S. Senate (NY Senator), U.S. House of Representatives (NY District 22). Responses are quoted (verbatim whenever possible) below.
United States Senate
DIANE SARE
(IND Candidate for U.S. Senate)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“[1] Regulate financial speculation, and lifting sanctions against Russia and other nations. This will stop the hyperinflation of costs of fertilizer, fuel, and other commodities. Food supply should never be weaponized.
[2] Go back to a system of parity pricing which encourages the family farm, as opposed to the food monopolies which are actually less efficient, and more vulnerable.
[3] Stop the expansion of wind and solar power. It’s a waste of money, a terrible eyesore, and doesn’t produce reliable energy. With so much starvation in the world, it’s insane to be cutting back food production.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“I live in Rockland County, so unfortunately I don’t shop in Onondaga County often. When I was at the State Fair, I enjoyed some delicious 15 year-aged cheddar cheese produced locally.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
| Ensure all New York students have access to free school meals. | SUPPORT |
| Increase access to New York-grown foods in schools and other institutions. | SUPPORT |
| Promote food security by increasing enrollment/utilization of SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and other nutrition assistance programs. | SUPPORT |
| Foster a thriving regional food economy by improving and modernizing the Central New York Regional Market’s infrastructure. | SUPPORT |
| Sustain support for local and regional food systems in the upcoming Farm Bill, while elevating the importance of food sovereignty. | REQUEST MORE INFORMATION |
New York State Senate
RACHEL MAY
(DEM/WFP Incumbent Candidate for NYS Senate, 48th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“[1]Addressing food deserts
[2] Connecting NY farms to institutions like schools, colleges, hospitals, food banks
[3] Supporting sustainable agriculture by incentivizing farming practices that protect watersheds”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“As often as I can! I love local apples and 1911 cider, picking berries at local farms, and the wide variety of veggies at the Regional Market.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
| Ensure all New York students have access to free school meals. | SUPPORT |
| Increase access to New York-grown foods in schools and other institutions. | SUPPORT |
| Promote food security by increasing enrollment/utilization of SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and other nutrition assistance programs. | SUPPORT |
| Foster a thriving regional food economy by improving and modernizing the Central New York Regional Market’s infrastructure. | SUPPORT |
| Sustain support for local and regional food systems in the upcoming Farm Bill, while elevating the importance of food sovereignty. | SUPPORT |
JULIE ABBOT
(REP Candidate for NYS Senate, 48th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“[1] I firmly believe one of the best ways to limit environmental impact and maximize nutrition and health benefits of the food we eat is by growing and buying local. Upstate and Central New York are home to some of the best soil in the Country for agriculture!
[2] I am a firm supporter of our local family farms, Agriculture land preservation, OnFarm fest which connects everyday people with the food they eat and how it reaches their plate, and OnondagaGrown Initiatives.
[3] I believe in equitable access to healthy food options is critical if we are to all thrive under our food system in CNY. Your zip code should not determine you or your child’s health, nutrition and success in life and this applies to access to nutritious choices. That is why I believe in closing the gaps that create “food deserts”.
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“As a mother of teenage boys where DON’T I shop #OnondagaGrown participating locations? Let me list just a few!!!
Beak & Skiff; Navarino; Chocolate Pizza Co.; Elderberry Pond Restaurant; Nojaim Bros; Skaneateles Bakery; Skan Sugar Shack; Tom’s Bootleg BBQ Sauce; Green Hills; Recess Coffee; Buried Acorn Co.
I feel so much pride soliciting these venues and purchasing with #OnondagaGrown ingredients!!!”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
| Ensure all New York students have access to free school meals. | SUPPORT |
| Increase access to New York-grown foods in schools and other institutions. | SUPPORT |
| Promote food security by increasing enrollment/utilization of SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and other nutrition assistance programs. | SUPPORT |
| Foster a thriving regional food economy by improving and modernizing the Central New York Regional Market’s infrastructure. | SUPPORT |
| Sustain support for local and regional food systems in the upcoming Farm Bill, while elevating the importance of food sovereignty. | SUPPORT |
JOHN MANNION
(DEM Incumbent Candidate for NYS Senate, 50th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“[1] Providing incentives for large food retailers — establish business in food deserts and micro food deserts.
[2] Continue to expand the Nourish New York Program, which connects schools and farms for healthy food options while supporting our farming sector.
[3] Expansion of SNAP — where people can use those SNAP funds at restaurants.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“Beak and Skiff apples and apples cider, bi weekly.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
| Ensure all New York students have access to free school meals. | SUPPORT |
| Increase access to New York-grown foods in schools and other institutions. | SUPPORT |
| Promote food security by increasing enrollment/utilization of SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and other nutrition assistance programs. | SUPPORT |
| Foster a thriving regional food economy by improving and modernizing the Central New York Regional Market’s infrastructure. | SUPPORT |
| Sustain support for local and regional food systems in the upcoming Farm Bill, while elevating the importance of food sovereignty. | SUPPORT |
New York State Assembly
JOHN LEMONDES
(REP Incumbent Candidate for NYS Assembly, 126th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“[1] Educating children more in school to understand how and where food and fiber are produced ( see my bill on this topic).
[2] Protecting our agricultural land to enhance food security and
[3] Keeping the food production costs as low as they can be.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“Often (weekly or semi weekly) . Products purchased are fiber based clothing (wool), meat, vegetables, herbs, etc.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
| Ensure all New York students have access to free school meals. | REQUEST MORE INFORMATION |
| Increase access to New York-grown foods in schools and other institutions. | SUPPORT |
| Promote food security by increasing enrollment/utilization of SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and other nutrition assistance programs. | REQUEST MORE INFORMATION |
| Foster a thriving regional food economy by improving and modernizing the Central New York Regional Market’s infrastructure. | SUPPORT |
| Sustain support for local and regional food systems in the upcoming Farm Bill, while elevating the importance of food sovereignty. | SUPPORT |
PAMELA HUNTER
(DEM/WFP Incumbent Candidate for NYS Assembly, 128th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“My priorities would be for the food system in Central New York to be safe, affordable and sustainable.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“Often. I have purchased products from and/or visited Beak and Skiff, Brady Farm, Jubilee Farm, Urban Delights, Syracuse East Side Farmers Market, Apple Acres, Navarino Orchard and the Luchsinger Farm.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
| Ensure all New York students have access to free school meals. | SUPPORT |
| Increase access to New York-grown foods in schools and other institutions. | SUPPORT |
| Promote food security by increasing enrollment/utilization of SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and other nutrition assistance programs. | SUPPORT |
| Foster a thriving regional food economy by improving and modernizing the Central New York Regional Market’s infrastructure. | SUPPORT |
| Sustain support for local and regional food systems in the upcoming Farm Bill, while elevating the importance of food sovereignty. | SUPPORT |
WILLIAM B. MAGNARELLI
(DEM Incumbent Candidate for NYS Assembly, 129th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“[1] Making sure everyone has the ability to purchase and/or obtain healthy foods.
[2] Making sure everyone has access to healthy foods.
[3] Ensure that farming is done in a sustainable and environmentally positive way.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“Unfortunately, not often enough. I try to do so on weekends when I have more time. I love Onondaga farms’ fresh produce, variety of fresh fruits and dairy products. Also, locally produced beers and ciders are great!”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
| Ensure all New York students have access to free school meals. | SUPPORT |
| Increase access to New York-grown foods in schools and other institutions. | SUPPORT |
| Promote food security by increasing enrollment/utilization of SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, and other nutrition assistance programs. | SUPPORT |
| Foster a thriving regional food economy by improving and modernizing the Central New York Regional Market’s infrastructure. | SUPPORT |
| Sustain support for local and regional food systems in the upcoming Farm Bill, while elevating the importance of food sovereignty. | SUPPORT |
If you are a candidate running for office in Central New York and wish to share responses to these questions, please reach out to maura@syrfoodalliance.org.