Evaluating the Growth and Impact of the 30% NY Initiative, 2023-24
Cheryl Bilinski, Local Food Systems Specialist, Farm to School Lead
Harvest New York
July 8, 2025

Pathways to Progress: Evaluating the Growth and Impact of the 30% NY Initiative in 2023-24 is a product of Cornell University Farm to School (CU F2S). The report analyzes the procurement data of 73 School Food Authorities (SFAs) that qualified for the 30% New York State Initiative (NY30) based on NY food product (NYFP) purchases made during the 2023-24 school year (SY). The goals of this analysis are to:
- Assess the growth of the NY30 program and measure progress in relation to its legislative intent.
- Evaluate purchasing patterns across various food industry groups, comparing current data with purchases from the 2019-20 SY.
- Identify current barriers to purchasing NYFPs across food industry groups and compare these with the barriers identified in 2019-20.
- Examine strategies and resources that enhance the likelihood that SFAs will be successful in the NY30.
- Identify areas where further research is needed to advance the NY30 program.
Written by Cheryl Bilinski, Local Foods Systems Specialist and Cornell Farm to Institution Program Director, CCE Harvest NY with funding provided by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Evaluating the Growth and Impact of the 30% NY Initiative, 2023-24 (pdf; 3234KB)
Purchases and Payments Made to SFAs, 2018-2024 (pdf; 207KB)
Upcoming Events
Intercropping with Mushrooms
October 14, 2025
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Poughkeepsie, NY
Join us for an afternoon of hands-on learning at Pershing Community Farm, led by Urban Agriculture Specialist Yolanda Gonzalez.2025 Agroforestry Field Day Series -- Agroforestry Implementation and Management
October 23, 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Highland, NY
Interested in incorporating agroforestry practices into your farm? Join us for a series of workshops co-hosted by CCE Ulster, Orange, and Harvest NY with Mastwood Farms, Black Creek Farm and Nursery and Scenic Hudson. On October 23, we'll return to Erik Schellenberg's farm, Black Creek Farm and Nursery, for a Fall tour of their agroforestry plantings. Erik will talk about harvesting and managing plantings while we see some seasonal crops and installations of different ages and types. There will be time for questions and discussion as we wrap up the series. covered.