Food Security Council

A Dutchess County where every resident can consistently obtain nutritious, culturally responsive food and where a strong local food system supports healthy communities, thriving agriculture, and long-term resilience.

The Dutchess County Food Security Council brings together partners across food access organizations, government, healthcare, agriculture, and community groups to advance a coordinated, data-informed approach to food security that strengthens reliable and equitable access to nutritious food while supporting a resilient local food economy.

Principle 1: Strengthen Countywide Coordination

Build a unified, collaborative food system network across Dutchess County

• Improve communication and information sharing among food access organizations, farms, nonprofits, healthcare providers, schools, and government agencies.
• Promote systems that facilitate the aggregation and distribution of local agricultural products to local institutional and individual purchasers and recipients.
• Reduce duplication of efforts and identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Align stakeholders around shared priorities and coordinated responses to food system challenges.
• Expand public awareness of food access resources through coordinated outreach and education.
   

Principle 2: Strengthen Food Security and Nutrition

Support efforts that help residents, particularly those facing the greatest barriers to food security, consistently obtain sufficient, nutritious, and culturally responsive food with dignity.

• Improve infrastructure and service models that connect residents with food resources.
• Expand access to fresh, nutrient-dense, and medically appropriate foods.
• Support culturally responsive and client-centered approaches.
• Address geographic, economic, transportation, and other barriers to food security.
   

Principle 3: Strengthen Local and Regional Food System Resilience

Support the development of sustainable procurement, recovery, distribution, and infrastructure systems that strengthen local agriculture, improve food security, and increase the resilience of the county's food system.

• Expand opportunities for local and regional food procurement.
• Support food recovery and redistribution efforts.
• Encourage investment in shared infrastructure, logistics, and distribution networks.
• Build relationships with philanthropic, public, and private funding partners.
   

Principle 4: Improve Data, Accountability, and Impact

Strengthen collection, sharing, and use of data to inform decision-making, allocate resources effectively, identify emerging needs, and measure progress toward food security principles.

• Track service utilization, unmet needs, and food system gaps.
• Identify trends and emerging challenges affecting food security and local food systems.
• Support data sharing and coordination among food system stakeholders.
• Develop shared indicators and measures to assess progress and impact.
• Use data to inform planning, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making.
   

Principle 5: Integrate Food Security with Health and Community Well-Being

Address food insecurity through coordinated partnerships that recognize the connections between food, health, housing, transportation, and economic stability.

• Partner with healthcare, housing, education, and social service providers to coordinate support for residents.
• Identify and address barriers that prevent residents from obtaining nutritious food.
• Improve benefits navigation and participation in SNAP, WIC, school meals, and related programs.
• Support food-as-medicine and other health-focused food security initiatives.
• Promote cross-sector collaboration to address the underlying drivers of food insecurity.
   

Principle 6: Advance Policy, Advocacy, and Resource Development

Leverage policy, funding, and advocacy opportunities to strengthen food security, support local agriculture, and build long-term food system resilience.

• Monitor and evaluate local, state, and federal policy developments affecting food security and agriculture.
• Develop and advance recommendations that strengthen the county's food system.
• Advocate for policies that improve food security and strengthen local food systems, and through education and advocacy, encourage community partners to offer philanthropic support to food security and food system initiatives.

• Renee Fillette-Miccio, PhD, Dutchess Outreach
• Gibson Durnford, Ten Mile Farm
• Dennis Macheska, Vassar College
• Barbara Citarella, Public Healthcare Consultant
• Sabrina Marzouka, Commissioner of Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services
• Janet Mclain, Social Welfare Manager II, SNAP/HEAP Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services
• Theresa Giovanniello, Deputy Commissioner of Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services
• Livia Santiago-Rosado, Commissioner of Dutchess County Department of Health
• Jennifer Conflitti, Dutchess County Department of Health
• Nimesh Bhargava, Dutchess County Office for the Aging
• Eoin Wrafter, Senior Assistant County Executive
• Susan Zimet, NYS Food and Anti- Hunger Policy Coordinator - Ex-Officio - State Representative

The Department of Community and Family Services (DCFS) commissioned a comprehensive community food security assessment.  The purpose of this project was to evaluate the current state of the local food system, as it relates to food and nutritional insecurity, and identify opportunities for strengthening food access. That report was completed in December 2025 and can be found here:

Community Food Security Assessment Report (2025)

The Council has established working groups which will be reviewing the report and assessing its recommendations and making recommendations to the County Executive for actions which are reasonable and achievable.