Assembly Resolution No. 698

BY: M. of A. Tague

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        March 25-31, 2022, as Farmworker Awareness  Week  in
        the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  Hardworking  American  farmers provide New York State, the
Nation, and much of the world with  a  safe,  healthy,  affordable,  and
abundant food supply; and

  WHEREAS,  Farmers  boost  our  local  economies by spending locally,
attracting tourism, and keeping money in our communities; in the  United
States,  agriculture is a thriving industry which provides $1.1 trillion
in economic impact and provides food for an American population of  more
than 328 million, as well as a global people; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to  proclaim  March  25-31,  2022,  as  Farmworker
Awareness  Week  in  the  State  of  New  York,  in conjunction with the
observance of National Farmworker Awareness Week; and

  WHEREAS, Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), the workforce  development
and  certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers,
retailers  and  consumer  advocacy  groups,  is   celebrating   National
Farmworker   Awareness   Week   by   encouraging  growers,  agricultural
associations and consumers to share messages  honoring  the  farmworkers
who make it possible for Americans to have access to high-quality, fresh
and  safer fruits and vegetables, particularly in light of the pandemic;
and

  WHEREAS, National Farmworker Awareness Week is a designated week  of
action  for  communities  to  bring attention to the multiple challenges
farmworkers  face  and  honor  their  important  and  always   essential
contributions to the food supply chain; and

  WHEREAS,  These past few years has helped the world shine a light on
the men and women of many essential industries,  including  agriculture;
now more than ever, consumers have taken an interest in where their food
comes  from  and  the special people who help get it from farm to table;
and

  WHEREAS, Essential to getting fresh and healthy food on  supermarket
shelves,  farmworkers  grow,  harvest,  process  and pack fresh food for
stores every day; nearly  2.5  million  farmworkers  are  on  farms  and
ranches throughout the United States, performing hard and skilled labor;
it  is estimated that there are 425,000 farmworkers working in the fresh
produce industry alone; and

  WHEREAS, The celebration of National Farmworker Awareness Week is in
recognition of  farmers  from  all  racial,  ethnic  and  socio-economic
backgrounds  and  walks  of life, who feed us and our families every day
and of the importance of agriculture as a vital  industry  and  economic
driver in New York State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to  proclaim  March  25-31,  2022,  as
Farmworker Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.