As more and more Americans apply for unemployment benefits and food stamps, the US agricultural industry is simultaneously destroying the largest amount of food since the Great Depression.
A couple weeks ago we discussed how Feeding America is advocating for a voucher program to connect farmers with non-profits to put their unsold goods to good use. The US Department of Agriculture will soon attempt to address the dilemma by purchasing $300 million worth of produce, dairy, and meat each month to donate to food banks in need.
Additionally, the USDA will also subsidize the boxing up of food to be shipped to food banks, a task that farmers said was preventing them from donating the food in the first place.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is instituting a similar program, called Nourish New York, in his state. The plan sets aside $25 million for food banks to use to purchase food from farmers. Some farmers are also stepping up to support food banks independently. Dairy Farmers of America, the country’s largest dairy co-op, sent nearly 250,000 gallons of milk to food banks across the country.
Government support of agriculture is not new. The USDA already buys $20 million of unwanted cheese from producers across the country each year. The US has a large enough food supply to feed our population, yet people go hungry every day. In times of crisis, sometimes the solution is just better infrastructure to connect those in need with surplus supplies.
