A report from the New York State Department of Health has revealed a concerning level of food insecurity among adults in the Empire State, with one in four struggling to afford nutritious meals.
The state report provides a county-by-county breakdown of adult food insecurity rates, based on the percentage of adults who have expressed concerns over affording nutritious meals in the past year.
Herkimer and Oswego counties in Central New York, along with Rockland County in the Hudson Valley, have the highest rates. Conversely, Wyoming in Western New York, Columbia in the Hudson Valley, and Lewis in the North Country exhibit the lowest rates.
Describing food as a basic human right, advocates calls for action to ensure no one struggles to provide food for their family.
What percentage of adults in local counties reported food insecurity?
Cayuga: 19.6%
Monroe: 18.7%
Onondaga: 21.9%
Ontario: 13.1%
Schuyler: 23.6%
Seneca: 22.3%
Tompkins: 14.3%
Wayne: 15.5%
Yates: 13.5%
The full report can be read here.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].