Fudge, Costa, Plaskett Introduce Legislation to Better Connect Farmers, Food Banks

Press Release

Today, Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Chair of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight and Department Operations; Jim Costa (CA-16), Chair of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture; and Stacey Plaskett (VI), Chair of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, introduced legislation to help streamline the donation of food by farmers to food banks across the country as it confronts growing hunger related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Farm to Food Bank Enhancement Act would provide $25 million for states to expand or establish new Farm to Food bank projects as part of The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP. The federal funding would be used to cover up to 100 percent of harvesting, processing, packaging, and transportation costs for covered commodities.

"At the same time millions of hungry Americans are lining up at food banks as a result of the pandemic, many of our nation's farmers and agriculture producers are seeing their demand disappear and are having to destroy millions of pounds of fresh food," said Rep. Fudge. "Our bill will help to connect those two important parts of the emergency response, making great strides toward preventing food waste and fighting hunger that is reaching new, unprecedented highs."

"California farmers and foodbanks have already proven this model works," said Rep. Costa. "As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, I know our fruit, vegetable, dairy, livestock, and poultry farmers have lost markets for their products, and this bill will help get some of what they produce to the people who need it more than ever right now."

"This legislation is a step in the right direction for both our farmers and our food-insecure families. As Chair of the Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring that we support specialty crop farmers during this difficult time and better connect families in need more quickly with nutritious fruits and vegetables," added Rep. Plaskett.

The Farm to Food Bank Enhancement Act is endorsed by Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank; Alameda County Community Food Bank; Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency; Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency; California Association of Food Banks; California Farm Bureau Federation; California Fresh Fruit Association; Central California Food Bank; Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County; Community Alliance with Family Farmers, Davis, CA; Dignity Health Connected Living; Feeding Kentucky; Feeding Pennsylvania; Feeding San Diego; FIND Food Bank of Indio, CA; Food Bank Council of Michigan; Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano; Food for People, The Food Bank for Humboldt County; Foodbank of Santa Barbara County; Greater Cleveland Food Bank; Hunger Action LA; Imperial Valley Food Bank; International Dairy Foods Association; Los Angeles Regional Food Bank; Mid-Ohio Food Collective; National Milk Producers Federation; Ohio Association of Food Banks; Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers; Ohio Dairy Producers Association; Ohio Farm Bureau Federation; Ohio Farmers Union; Ohio Pork Council; Orange County Food Bank ReFED; Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services; San FranciscoMarin Food Bank; Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio; Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County; Second Harvest Food Bank of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties; Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley; Second Harvest of Silicon Valley; Southeast Ohio Foodbank and Regional Kitchen; The Foodbank, Inc.; Freestore Foodbank; United Fresh Produce Association; Western Center on Law and Poverty; and Western Growers.

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