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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 377-11
October 24, 2011

MAYOR BLOOMBERG, DEPUTY MAYOR GIBBS, COMMISSIONERS FARLEY AND DOAR, FOOD POLICY COORDINATOR KESSLER CELEBRATE FIRST ANNUAL FOOD DAY

City Launches NYC Food Website, Distributes Thousands of Apples in Nationwide Celebration of Eating Real and Healthy Food

Mayor Joins Chef Mario Batali on "The Chew" to Cook Saltimbocca alla New Yorkese

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs, Department of Health Commissioner Thomas A. Farley, Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar, President of the New York Apple Association Jim Allen, and Food Policy Coordinator Kim Kessler today launched New York City’s participation in the first annual Food Day, a nationwide celebration of eating real and healthy food, by distributing New York State apples to New Yorkers.  Standing at the Steinway subway station in Queens with a cart full of apples, the Mayor declared today “Eat an Apple” Day, telling New Yorkers that eating an apple is an easy, inexpensive way to eat healthy. In honor of the day, the New York Apple Association donated over three thousand apples, which will be handed out at five locations throughout New York City by NYC & Co Street Teams. Restaurants throughout the City are also participating with apple-themed recipes and the Department of Education is making apples available in city public schools. To keep New Yorkers informed about New York City programs, resources, and policies relating to healthy eating, food systems, and food businesses the Office of the Food Policy Coordinator also announced the new NYC Food website.

“New Yorkers are an opinionated bunch and everyone has a favorite way to celebrate food in our city: by enjoying a delicious, healthy meal in one of our many restaurants, shopping for tasty and nutritious fruits and vegetables at a farmers market, or preparing a home-cooked meal with friends or family," said Mayor Bloomberg. “But I think we should all agree that one easy, affordable, and healthy step we can all take today – and every day – is to grab a crisp New York apple. We are the Big Apple after all!”

“The City is committed to making New Yorkers increasingly aware of how diet and exercise choices impact health,” said Deputy Mayor Gibbs.  “The new NYC Food website, which launched today, is a critical resource that will help everyone find information about City programs and healthy recipes – I especially recommend my submission, a broiled salmon dish.”

“Food Day presents an opportunity for all New Yorkers to consider how food affects health,” said Commissioner Farley. “Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits – like apples – and vegetables instead of junk food like chips and soda can help keep the doctor away. Eating healthy is an important component of maintaining a healthy weight and keeping illness and disease at bay.”

“The primary goal of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is to supplement a daily diet with nutritious foods,” said HRA Commissioner Robert Doar. “We encourage low-income individuals and families receiving food stamps to use their benefit to make healthier choices. An apple, as well as other fruits and vegetables, are especially good nutritious and economical choices.”

“Food Day is an opportunity to talk about what we can all do to improve the health of our diets and our food system,” said Food Policy Coordinator Kessler. “We developed the NYC Food website to help New Yorkers learn about the resources available and as a one stop shop where people can learn more about City food programs and policies.”

“Apple growers in New York State are pleased to provide these delicious home grown Empire apples to the Big Apple,” said Jim Allen, President of the New York Apple Association. “NY State produces 30 million bushels a year in nearby upstate orchards. Apples are healthy, portable and tasty, offering apple lovers a satisfying experience every time they crunch into one. New York is Apple country with millions of local branches near you!”

Under Mayor Bloomberg, New York City has been a leader in helping to make healthful eating easier for everyone by implementing policies like calorie labeling and the transfat ban. Additionally, many City programs provide healthy eating resources for low-income New Yorkers.

These include: the Food Stamp Program (also known as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program); the Health Bucks program, which provides a financial incentive for SNAP beneficiaries to purchase fruits and vegetables in farmers markets; and nutrition requirements for publicly financed meals in schools, afterschool programs, daycare centers and senior centers.

The Health Department is also actively working within various areas of food retail to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables, which can help New Yorkers maintain a healthy weight and help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke. In 2008, the Health Department worked with the Mayor’s Office and the City Council to introduce a new permit for food cart vendors to sell fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved neighborhoods, resulting in more than 500 Green Carts operating in all five boroughs.

In addition, the City’s Food Retail Expansion to Support Health (FRESH) program aims to bring nutritious, affordable fresh food to neighborhoods that do not have easy access to grocery stores. FRESH provides zoning and financial incentives to attract grocery store operators to set up shops in underserved communities across the city.

And, in 2006, Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council provided funding for Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) scanners, which were installed at numerous Greenmarkets around the City so that SNAP recipients may use their benefit card to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the city.

New York City has also taken steps in recent years to reduce consumption of sugary drinks and encourage better nutrition. The “Pouring on the Pounds” media campaign has educated New Yorkers with subway posters, TV spots, and YouTube videos about the adverse health effects of sugary drinks. In addition, the Health Department has worked with over 400 community organizations, faith-based organizations, and businesses to adopt policies and educational campaigns, which create healthy environments by reducing sugary drink consumption at their sites.

As a result of New York City’s focus on healthy eating and promoting access, New Yorkers are exhibiting healthier eating habits; the Health Department’s 2010 annual survey shows that New Yorkers are drinking fewer sugary drinks and eating more fruits and vegetables. 

In connection with the announcement of the City’s new food website, the Mayor’s Office is also asking New Yorkers to share their best healthy recipes with other New Yorkers on its Tumblr blog (http://nycfoodrecipes.tumblr.com/).  The blog will have recipes from chefs like Mario Batali and Bill Telepan, as well as New York City commissioners, school and community cooking programs and many other New Yorkers.  

To find out more about New York City’s food policies and programs, visit www.nyc.gov. And for the latest NYC Food news, follow @nycfood on Twitter. To support public programs promoting nutrition and healthy eating, such as Grow to Learn: the Citywide School Gardens Initiative and NYC Salad Bar Initiatives, contact the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City by calling 311.

Mayor Bloomberg and Mario Batali’s Saltimbocca alla New Yorkese:

INGREDIENTS
New York State Apple Sauce:
4 Cortland or Empire Apples, peeled and cored
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 shot Grappa
1 pinch Cinnamon
1 Tspn Salt
Juice and zest of 1 Lemon
1/4 Cup Chives, freshly chopped

Saltimbocca alla New Yorkese:
8 Pork Cutlets, about 2 ounces each
8 Fresh Sage Leaves
8 slices Prosciutto di Parma
Flour, for dusting
Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper
4 Tblspn Unsalted Butter
1/2 Cup Dry White Wine
Lemon Wedges

STEPS
Quarter apples and place them in a saucepan over medium heat with the sugar, grappa, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice.  Cook until soft and broken down, about 5-7 minutes.  Remove from heat,  cover with foil and set aside. 

Using a meat mallet, pound each pork slice to about 1/8-inch thick. Place 1 sage leaf and 1 slice of prosciutto on each pork cutlet and fold over to form a sandwich, with the meat inside the prosciutto. Pound lightly with the meat mallet, then secure with toothpicks.

In a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of butter over high heat until it foams and subsides. Season the flour with salt and pepper, and dredge the cutlets lightly in the flour. Add to the pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a platter and keep warm.

Pour the wine into the pan and bring to a boil, stirring with wooden spoon to dislodge the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and season the sauce with salt and pepper.

Return the cutlets to the pan just to reheat, place apple sauce on a platter sprinkle with chives and then transfer the cutlets to platter over the apple sauce, pour the sauce over, and serve immediately, with lemon wedges.

New York State Apple Distribution Locations:

Bronx @12:30 PM
Bronx Zoo, Entrance on the east side of Southern Blvd & 185th St

Brooklyn @ 8:00 AM
Brooklyn Bridge, Top of Pedestrian Access Stairway at Cadman Plaza E & Prospect St.

Manhattan @ 12:45 PM
Times Square, Broadway between 43rd & 44th Streets

Queens @ 8:30 AM
Steinway Subway Station, Outside the station, Corner of Steinway Avenue & 34th Street

Staten Island @ 8:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry St. George Terminal
Grand Staircase Platform, Veranda on the outside of the North Corridor







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