Feeling the pinch of rising grocery bills? One New York City mayoral candidate believes the solution lies closer to home. State Senator Zellnor Myrie, a Democrat from Brooklyn, is proposing a plan to leverage New York’s extensive agricultural network to combat soaring food costs.

“We have a wealth of farms in this state that need more support to get their produce to city markets,” Myrie explained in a recent interview with NTD. “By prioritizing local sourcing, we can drastically reduce transportation costs and put more money back into the pockets of both farmers and consumers.”

The strategy addresses a significant issue: according to the New York State Department of Agriculture, the state boasts over 30,500 farms (2024 data). However, a concerning reality is that farmers currently receive less than 16 cents of every dollar spent on food. The remaining 84 cents covers expenses like transportation, processing, and distribution – costs which Myrie’s plan aims to curtail.

This proposal offers a unique approach to tackling food inflation, focusing on strengthening local economies and reducing reliance on long-distance transportation. It highlights the potential of local farming to not only alleviate financial strain on New Yorkers but also boost the sustainability and resilience of the city’s food system.