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USA Today
13-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Federal cuts hit farmers and food banks: 'It really hurts'
Federal cuts hit farmers and food banks: 'It really hurts' The federal cuts were announced months ago, but farmers and food banks are now seeing the impacts of missed deliveries and canceled orders. Show Caption Hide Caption Farmers brace for cuts to USAID and USDA Farmers, who already operate under thin margins, said funding cuts to programs like USAID, USDA and a new trade war were concerning. Sylvia Tisdale believes in feeding the hungry so much that, at 70 years old, she attempted to climb Mount Kiliminjaro to raise awareness about food insecurity. "The altitude got me," she said with a small chuckle, "but my daughter made it." Three years later, the pastor at Epps Christian Center in Pensacola, Florida, is still passionate about the work she and her volunteers do to feed the hungry. So when one of those volunteers, Mike Stephens, wrote to his local newspaper to highlight the impact of cuts by the Trump Administration to limit expenditures to food pantries and soup kitchens through the United States Department of Agriculture, she understood why. "It hits people hard when they come and can't get as much food," she told USA TODAY, "and it really hurts my volunteers when they have to turn people away." The USDA announced cuts in March to the Local Food Purchase Assistance program and a similar program, the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement totaling more than $1 billion. Scheduled deliveries of food through the USDA's Emergency Food Assistance Program were halted or cut back. The programs are meant to help farmers by paying them for fresh produce that can be distributed to food banks, pantries and schools. It aimed to supply students and people in need with healthy, locally-sourced food. The cuts came as part of the Trump Administration's wider efforts to root out what it considers wasteful spending. When the cuts were announced, multiple outlets cited USDA statements saying the programs were no longer in line with the agency's goals. In a Feb. 13 letter to state and local officials, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the USDA has a "historic opportunity to improve nutrition programs to better serve individuals who need additional support." "Our shared goal should be to lift millions of Americans out of dependency and into hopeful futures and unimagined possibilities," she wrote. "It will require tireless energy and new and innovative approaches to long-ignored problems." USA TODAY has reached out to the USDA for further comment. Pensacola isn't the only place feeling the impact of cuts to federal food programs. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro recently filed a lawsuit to stop the USDA's elimination of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program, which provides funds for farmers who supply local food banks with fresh produce. Across the country, food banks and the farmers who supply them with the help of federal funds say the cuts are starting to hurt their bottom lines and their ability to feed people in need. 'Clients left crying' Stephens, the volunteer at Epps Christian Center, wrote to the Pensacola News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, when a truck full of food they'd expected didn't arrive. "I felt it was sad that a large number of homeless citizens were turned away due to this situation," Stephens wrote in a letter published June 3. "...Clients were left crying in the rain and shivering under the trees without food and groceries." The center serves as many as 300 cars at drive-up food distributions and dozens of homeless people at its soup kitchen, Stephens noted in his letter. Tisdale started the distribution 17 years ago when she saw day laborers early one morning outside a nearby business and made them breakfast. More than 15% of the people in Escambia County are food-insecure, so Tisdale, seeing a need, opened a soup kitchen in one of her church buildings for homeless people and started food distributions for others in need. So far, Tisdale said, the community has helped pick up the slack from the loss of other food sources. But she worries for her clients, most of whom are working people who just need help making ends meet between paychecks. "We are a staple in this community," said Tisdale. "We're open when others aren't." Still, she acknowledged, they've "always operated on a shoestring." "These cuts have affected everybody and every household," she said. For farmers, 'every little bit helps' Tom Croner is a seventh-generation farmer growing corn, soybeans and wheat in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He said losing LFPA funding will cut into the already-slim margins for him and many other farmers. "Every little bit helps in that respect," Croner told part of the USA TODAY Network. LFPA funds also help farmers employ more sustainable practices than they might otherwise use, he added. Pennsylvania officials say the program benefits both families and the state's agricultural industry: More than $28 million in federal funding goes to 189 farmers, who have supplied nearly 26 million pounds of food to food banks and pantries; and people in need get access to healthy, locally sourced food. The cuts extend well beyond Florida and Pennsylvania: About $11.3 million in Iowa, about $21 million in Arizona, and about $2 million in Delaware. And that's just some of the states seeing significant cuts to food programs. The Iowa Farmers Union, a coalition of family farmers, said in a statement to the Des Moines Register (part of the USA TODAY Network) the impact of federal cuts "is immediate and devastating," adding that "producers who have already planned over $3 million in food sales in 2025 through these programs now face sudden financial uncertainty.' Some small farmers could find themselves facing bankruptcy, said Chris Schwartz, executive director of the Iowa Food System Coalition. More people in need, less food to give them Loree Jones Brown is CEO of Philabundance, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit and part of the Feeding America network that works with more than 350 community-based organizations to distribute food throughout a nine-county area in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. She said food pantry operators tell Philabundance they're seeing more people than ever as housing, health care, food and other basic costs of living keep rising. At the same time, there is less food to distribute as a result of federal funding cuts. Still, she said she's hopeful that, even if some funding sources go away, the Trump Administration will provide other ways to feed hungry people in the U.S. Feeding America's Mind the Meal Gap map has a national county-by-county breakdown; Jones Brown said in the nine-county region served by Philabundance, the number of people who have food insecurity went from about 500,000 people in 2021 to 600,000 in 2022 and 629,000 in 2023 (the last year for which they have data). "Clearly, those numbers are moving in the wrong direction," Jones Brown said. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY; Bethany Rodgers,
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Waukesha County food pantry sees increase in clients, decline in funding
The Brief The Food Pantry of Waukesha County is coming off a record-breaking year helping people with no signs of slowing down, but funds and food donations aren't keeping up. Leaders say last year was a record-breaker for the number of people served. While demand is up, two federally funded food programs are being cut or eliminated altogether. WAUKESHA, Wis. - Leaders at a food pantry in Waukesha say they're seeing more people in need than ever before. But while demand is up, federally funded programs that help stock the shelves are drying up. What we know The Food Pantry of Waukesha County is coming off a record-breaking year helping people with no signs of slowing down. But funds and food donations aren't keeping up. Volunteer Julie Huttner is noticing a change at the Food Pantry of Waukesha County. "We see a lot of repeats, but it's not always the same people," Huttner said. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Leaders say last year was a record-breaker for the number of people served: nearly 9,000 individuals. So far this year, the need has increased by 11%. What they're saying Lyndsay Johnson is the pantry's executive director. While demand is up, two federally funded food programs are being cut or eliminated altogether. "These changes could leave some pretty large holes for us to fill," she said. When added up, Johnson expects a reduction of roughly $75,000 worth of food. The pantry has already decreased the amount of meat it hands out. "I'm grateful for the support we do receive," Johnson said. "The concern is what this looks like as we move forward." In a word, Johnson said the future is scary. Dig deeper Changes to SNAP benefits, as outlined in President Donald Trump's so-called big beautiful bill that passed the House, could leave more people relying on food pantry shelves. In addition to grants and donations, Johnson said the pantry also pays out-of-pocket for food. She said last year, the organization paid $381,000 – a 319% increase in just three years. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "That's a lot of money for an organization like ours to come up with [...] it comes from the community," she said. Adding to the anxiety, Johnson said summer months tend to be slow for donations, with fewer food drives while people are on vacation. Specific federal government reductions the pantry was notified about in March include: $25,000 in Emergency Assistance Program deliveries this summer for milk, eggs and meat. $50,000 in Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), which was discontinued. This provided locally grown produce and meat for clients. The Source The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.
Epoch Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Shapiro Sues USDA Over Termination of Farm-to-Food Bank Program
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) filed a The program, known as the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, was intended to fund Pennsylvania's local food system through 2027. It supported 189 farms and supplied fresh food to 14 food banks, including the Share Food Program in Philadelphia, where Shapiro announced the legal action Wednesday.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shapiro sues Trump administration over canceled farm and food bank funds
Gov. Josh Shapiro announced his administration has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its cancellation of millions of dollars in federal funding to farmers who supply food banks throughout the state. (Commonwealth Media Services) PHILADELPHIA — Gov. Josh Shapiro announced his administration has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over its cancellation of millions of dollars in federal funding to farmers who supply food banks throughout the state. 'I'm tired of waiting for someone to stand up for our farmers and our food banks. That task falls to us,' Shapiro said Wednesday in Philadelphia. 'The USDA and the Trump administration ignored our farmers, and they ignored folks who are hungry here in Pennsylvania.' Shapiro said his administration filed a lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg asking a judge to reverse the USDA's decision to cancel its contract with the commonwealth. The program, known as the Local Food Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), was established by President Joe Biden's administration in response to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. In December, Biden's administration renewed the contract with Pennsylvania for three years and $13 million. In March, the Trump administration announced that the program was ending. 'This lawsuit calls on the USDA to simply honor its commitment to our farmers, to honor its commitment to folks who are hungry and to simply follow the contract that they signed,' Shapiro said In Pennsylvania, LFPA provides funding that supports 189 farms and 14 food banks. Shapiro said it represented between 10% and 15% of the annual market share for many of the farmers participating in the program. The back-and-forth between Shapiro and the Trump administration over the matter has spanned multiple months. In March, Shapiro held a press conference at a food bank in Harrisburg sounding an alarm on the program's cancellation. He said his administration appealed to get the money and wrote a letter to Trump's administration in late March. In April, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made a trip to multiple central Pennsylvania farms where she claimed the money for food banks was, in fact, available. She said Shapiro and other officials either didn't 'have their facts right,' or were playing political 'games.' Shapiro disputed the claim at the time and re-upped his criticism of Rollins' explanation Wednesday in Philadelphia. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The LFPA initiative works as a reimbursement program, Shapiro said, so the state doesn't get the money until after it pays farmers and provides receipts. A USDA spokesperson told the Capital-Star that they 'do not comment on pending litigation,' and directed inquiries to the U.S. Department of Justice. George Maysik, executive director of Share Food Program in Philadelphia, said the food bank serves more than 500,000 people per month in the greater Philadelphia area and demand has risen over 120% in the last three years. 'The LFPA program was designed to provide some level of relief for the 14 food banks like us across the commonwealth who are serving that rising need,' Maysik said. He addressed Trump directly, criticizing his administration's decision to cancel the program. 'You had a deal with food banks serving 67 counties trying to alleviate poverty,' Maysik said. 'And above all, Mr. President, you had a deal with the American people and you broke your word.' 'The art of the deal,' he scoffed. Julie McCabe, executive director of Pennypack Farm & Education Center, explained her 13 acre vegetable farm in Montgomery County participated in the LFPA program to provide products to local food banks. 'Our produce giving program has grown tremendously,' McCabe said. 'From just over 8,000 pounds donated in 2017 to more than 26,000 pounds given in 2024.' While Shapiro said his administration has increased investments to connect farmers with hungry people, he said the state doesn't have the money to backfill the federal cuts, if the lawsuit is unsuccessful. Still, Shapiro said he has reasons to be optimistic that he would succeed. 'I've got a pretty good track record when I take Donald Trump to court,' said Shapiro, who served as the state's attorney general during Trump's first term. 'We're going to win this, and we're going to get our money back for the good people of Pennsylvania.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Miami Herald
30-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
A federal program sent local farmers' fresh produce to food banks. It's being cut
Stew — a big pot of it — with onions, potatoes and bell peppers. Maybe a little bit of meat, if they're lucky, Jackie Brown muttered, chewing over potential dinner ideas for her family as she surveyed the produce refrigerator at the Feeding South Florida food bank in Pembroke Park on a recent afternoon. She was planning a week of meals for herself and the five grandchildren she's raising, all big eaters, and needed something hearty that would also yield leftovers. Brown, 59, is one of the 1.2 million South Floridians who relied on Feeding South Florida, the region's largest food bank, last year to supplement their groceries. As rising costs of living have nudged more locals into greater financial precariousness and closer to hunger, the organization reported that nearly two in 10 South Floridians turned to it last year for food. But recent federal funding cuts mean Feeding South Florida's budget is about to shrink by more than 30%. As part of its push to reduce federal spending, the Trump administration shuttered the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), a $900 million initiative started in 2021 to help food banks purchase produce from local farmers. In doing so, it lopped $13.5 million — nearly all of the food bank's federal funding — from Feeding South Florida's budget. That means fewer vegetables on the table for families like Brown's, and fewer orders for the farmers who grow them. ▪ ▪ ▪ Particularly toward the end of the month, Brown relies on food banks like Feeding South Florida to put meals on the table. 'That's what I use the food bank for,' she said, 'to fill in that last week of the month before I get more [food stamp] assistance.' Like many across the country, and especially in South Florida, her household has felt the squeeze of rising prices. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows grocery prices have jumped roughly 30% since 2020. Over the same period of time, Miami-Dade's rate of food insecurity — people who don't have enough to eat — has spiked by 50%. On any given day, roughly 400,000 Miamians, 15% of the county's population, don't know where their next meal will come from. Compounding that vulnerability are proposed major cuts to federal spending on food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), better known as food stamps, on which nearly 3 million Floridians, including Brown and her five grandchildren, rely. For Brown's family and others that are either food insecure or close to it, food banks have become especially important for ensuring access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The local produce purchase program is largely to thank. Feeding South Florida estimates that nearly half of its produce is purchased with money from the program. Without the funding, the food bank told the Miami Herald it anticipates 'a reduction in both the volume and variety of fresh foods available' at its food banks and that its 'capacity to provide nutritious food will be significantly affected.' Robin Safley, the CEO of Feeding South Florida's umbrella organization, Feeding Florida, emphasized the economic importance of guaranteeing access to healthy, fresh food. Those served by her organization's affiliate food banks disproportionately deal with chronic health issues, including diabetes, said Safley. 'Many of them are also on Medicaid,' she noted, 'so those chronic conditions can really drive up the cost of health care.' Healthy eating plays a critical role in mitigating those costs, she added. But beyond those health impacts, Safley pointed out that the program has given local farmers more opportunities to sell produce in their home communities. ▪ ▪ ▪ At his farm in Palm Beach County earlier this month, J.D. Poole shouted over the sound of water raining from pipes affixed to the ceiling, cooling boxes of freshly picked corn below. A third-generation farmer from Belle Glade, Poole co-founded Scotlynn Sweet-Pac Growers in 2012. Still based in Belle Glade, the company plants, harvests and ships thousands of acres of sweet corn, pumpkins, cabbage, watermelon and asparagus each year. Thanks to the federal food purchase initiative, from which Florida received and dispersed more than $20 million to food banks last year, Feeding South Florida has been a major buyer from Poole. He estimates his farm sends more than 1 million pounds of produce each year down to the food bank, which purchases those orders with money from the program. Poole said the arrangement accounts for roughly 10% of Sweet-Pac Growers' annual revenue. The program was particularly helpful for selling perfectly good produce that grocery stores wouldn't buy because of slight aesthetic imperfections, he added. 'Rather than walk away and take a huge financial loss' on those vegetables, the program helped his business recoup planting investments that otherwise would've been lost, while at the same time 'providing really good, fresh food at a reasonable cost to the needy.' If not for the program, that produce would've been thrown out. That's what will likely happen now. He was grateful to provide for those in need, but Poole says he can't afford to harvest, process, package and ship his produce to food banks on his own dime. He hopes the president will reconsider the program's termination. A Trump voter, Poole is generally content with the administration thus far. And he backs Trump and the Department of Governmental Efficiency's (DOGE) purported efforts to eliminate the 'fluff' in government spending. But, he said, this initiative is not fluff. 'It's a very needed program.' Poole is far from alone in the agriculture community in his assessment. Aaron Shier, the government relations director at the National Farmers Union, a D.C.-based advocacy group, said the program has been important for many community farmers and strengthened local food supply chains, all while feeding people in need. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Florida Democrat who sits on the House Appropriations Committee's agriculture subcommittee, described the program as a 'win-win for our local farmers and for families in need.' Its cancellation is a 'gut punch,' she told the Herald, especially for small farmers and food-insecure people. People like Brown. The grandmother's disability benefits and SNAP assistance alone aren't enough for her to provide for her dependent grandchildren, whose mother died and whose father isn't in the picture. But Brown, turning to her friend Lathoya Bennett, said she feels lucky. 'Lots of people, lots of homeless people, can't even get here to get [this food]. We really need more of this.' Bennett nodded as she looked over the piles of carrots and onions: 'This is really a blessing.' This story was produced with financial support from supporters including The Green Family Foundation Trust and Ken O'Keefe, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
