NYC Reports Looks to Northern Neighbors for Food

The fate of Meredith's economic woes could be remedied by a hungry city to our south. In late November, the New York City Council presented "FoodWorks: A Vision to Improve NYC's Food System." Many of the report's proposed solutions to a food-needy populace is to enlist the help of the City's northern neighbors. Their hope is -- with help from legislative mandates, improved distribution channels and open dialogue -- the City can call on Catskill communities, like Meredith, to supply the dietary needs of nine million New Yorkers.

What that could mean for the Town of Meredith is jobs...through an expanded agricultural base and the secondary businesses affiliated with a grass-based farming community. With a little bit of planning, our town can position itself as a willing supplier to the City's future food needs. In the process, our community would fortify our local food supply and provide an economic backdrop that will provide resilience in any economic climate. After all, people always have to eat and they prefer eating high-quality, nutritious food. The Town of Meredith can do that -- step up to be a regional food supplier to our neighbors both down the road and down the Thruway.

All this directly relates to the Town's efforts to put a Farmland Protection Plan in place in 2011. By protecting farmland now and identifying what farmers need to succeed, we position ourselves as a player within this regional food network. If you would like to share your ideas for Meredith's Farmland Protection Plan, comment here or send an email to mailto:meredithfarmland@gmal.com.