Program Description
NYC rates of obesity and diabetes have doubled over the past decade. Food insecurity remains an ongoing problem in New York City. Low-income New Yorkers are both more likely to be obese and more likely to struggle to afford the food they need. The Office of the Food Policy Coordinator seeks to create an integrated multi-agency strategy in response to these problems. The Food Policy Coordinator has established the Food Policy Taskforce to engage agencies in the process of developing and implementing this strategy. The Office of the Food Policy Coordinator and the Food Policy Taskforce focus on three components of this strategy.

1. Promoting access to, and utilization of food support programs such as the Food Stamp Program and the School Meals Program.
   
   
2. Improving the healthfulness of meals served by City agencies. (the City serves approximately 225 million meals and snacks every year through the schools, hospitals, senior centers, and other facilities.)
   
   
3. Promoting healthy food retail access and demand. This involves attracting and retaining supermarkets, farmers markets, and Green Carts in low income communities while promoting consumption of healthy foods through media campaigns, Health Bucks incentives, and educational efforts.  

The Food Policy Coordinator (FPC) was established in January 2007 in a joint effort of Mayor Michael R Bloomberg and the NYC Council.  In September 2008, Mayor Bloomberg signed an Executive Order which formally and permanently establishing the Food Policy Coordinator’s position. Click here (in PDF) to see Executive Order No. 122.

Partner Agency:  The Food Policy Coordinator is situated in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services.