1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

Over 1 in 10 New York households rely on food pantries, with food insecurity rising across the state. While worthy efforts like the Nourish New York program and increased funding for universal school meals are helping, we must take further action to address this crisis. A key area is reducing food waste by promoting the use of "ugly" produce that would otherwise be discarded due to cosmetic imperfections. Additionally, incentivizing food donations from retailers, restaurants, and distributors can divert good, edible food from landfills to those in need. Robust policies and funding focused on minimizing food waste and maximizing food recovery will go a long way in alleviating hunger for countless New York families. The time to act is now to ensure no one goes without access to nutritious meals.