Anti-hunger advocates hailed the announcement that Governor Eliot Spitzer signed an executive order creating a New York State Council on Food Policy.

“Given that anti-hunger advocates, farmers, nutritionists, and owners of food-related businesses have spent years calling on the State to create such a Council, this is a huge victory,” said Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. “The Governor’s action is a bold advance that will allow us all to better work together with State agencies to achieve our mutual goals of decreasing hunger, helping family farmers stay on their land, improving nutrition, bolstering our economy, and reducing obesity.”

Continued Berg, “The Governor’s action proves that he fully appreciates that people who grow food and people who eat food are fully dependent on each other. He understands that farmers need consumers, and vice versa. We are especially pleased that the Council will make a special effort to bring nutritious food into low-income neighborhoods and make sure that such food is affordable.”

According to the Governor’s office, the Council will coordinate state agriculture policy and make recommendations on developing initiatives that will help ensure the availability of safe, fresh, nutritious and affordable food for all New Yorkers, especially low income residents, senior citizens and children. The Council will include 21 representatives from all areas of the food system, including six agency heads and food assistance organizations. The State Agriculture Commissioner, Patrick Hooker, will serve as the Chairperson.

“We very much look forward to working with Commissioner Hooker and the entire Council in building a healthier, more prosperous state,” said Berg.