N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 283: Powers and duties of the commissioner

§ 283. Powers and duties of the commissioner. The commissioner shall

have the powers and duties to:

1. Develop and implement programs designed to facilitate direct

marketing.

2. Encourage direct marketing through the cooperative selling and

buying of farm products or production supplies.

3. Provide technical or educational assistance to producers of farm

products seeking new or improved methods of direct marketing of such

products.

4. Provide assistance to wholesale buyers and retail stores seeking to

purchase farm and food products directly from producers.

5. Provide assistance to consumer or non-profit organizations, public

or private agencies, hospitals and other health care facilities seeking

to purchase or facilitate the purchase of farm products directly from

producers.

6. Publicize and encourage participation by producers and consumers in

direct marketing programs.

7. Encourage the direct marketing of food and farm products to public

and private agencies within the state.

8. Encourage the development of direct marketing programs within areas

of the state which are identified as having poor consumer access to

reasonably priced and high quality farm products.

8-a. Encourage the development of direct marketing programs, within

areas of the state designated by the department of health as having a

high incidence of childhood obesity and to increase the consumption of

fresh fruits and vegetables to help curb the incidence of childhood

obesity.

9. Conduct conferences, seminars or workshops designed to promote the

direct marketing of farm products within the state.

10. Contract, where necessary, and cooperate with other federal, state

and local governmental, private non-profit agencies, and other private

business organizations for the development, design and implementation of

any activities authorized hereunder.

11. Establish a statewide advisory council which shall provide

information to and advise the commissioner, as prescribed by him, on

policy, planning and programs.

12. Undertake any other activities which he deems necessary to

accomplish the purposes of this article.

13. Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to supplement and give

full force and effect to the provisions of this article.