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Cuomo urged to sign 'farm to foodbank' bill

thinkprogress.org

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  A broad coalition of environmentalists, anti-hunger advocates and agriculture groups is urging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign legislation giving farmers a tax break for donating food to food banks. 

Writing to the Democratic governor on Tuesday the group said the bill would address a growing hunger problem while reducing food waste. 

Farmers already donate millions of pounds of food every year, but say the credit of up to $5,000 annually would reduce the costs of harvesting and transporting surplus crops that would otherwise go to waste. 

The coalition's 144 members include the New York Farm Bureau, regional food banks, the League of Conservation Voters and the Natural Resources Defense Council. 

Cuomo vetoed the bill last year because lawmakers didn't include it in the budget. 

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