We urge all Slow Food NYC supporters to join the non-profit, Scenic Hudson as well as City Council Members Daniel R. Garodnick (Chair, Economic Development Committee) and Donovan Richards Jr. (Chair, Environmental Protection Committee) in urging Mayor de Blasio and the City Council to allocate funds in the City's 2015 Capital Budget to protect Hudson Valley farmland – a critical part of our historic, regional "foodshed." (See Scenic Hudson's website for more information.)
Small and mid-scale family farms in the Hudson Valley are a significant source of New York City's fresh, local food — supplying healthy produce, dairy, and meat to many of the city's farmers' markets, restaurants, and food pantries. Protecting this farmland is essential to ensuring our City has access to a resilient, regional source of food tomorrow and for years to come.
The City has wisely invested hundreds of millions of dollars to conserve land in our watershed, thereby protecting our source of good, clean drinking water. Now the City must make the same commitment to preserving an important part of our food supply by the allocation of funds to protect Hudson Valley farmland.
Please take a few moments to show your support for Hudson Valley farms and to help ensure New York City's access to fresh, local food for decades to come. Contact the Mayor's office and your City Council Member and urge them to invest in the protection of our Hudson Valley foodshed. Contact the Mayor's Office via this online form and via social media: @billdeblasio and @nycmayorsoffice. Find your Council Member here.
Thank you for your help in this important matter. A sample text is below. Personalize, cut, paste, and send it today!
Dear Mayor de Blasio or Council Member (Name).
I am a supporter of Slow Food NYC, the local chapter of a non-profit organization dedicated to good, clean, and fair food. Local food is important to me and to our City. I urge you to allocate funds in the City's capital budget to protect farmland in our Hudson Valley "foodshed." Protecting these farms is essential to help ensure far into the future a resilient, regional source of food to meet our City's growing demand for good, clean food.
Thank you
(Your Name)