Throughout the United States, food waste and food insecurity have increased. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food waste is between 30 and 40% of the food supply in the United States. On the other hand, 17.0 million U.S. households were food insecure, the lack of access to sufficient food, at some point during 2022. In order to combat both of those issues, the federal government provides funding to start Farm to Food Bank programs. Learn more about the program and how it works below!
Food Waste and Food Insecurity
The USDA estimates that there almost $161 billion worth of food loss and waste at the "retail and consumer levels." Food waste coincides with the loss of land, water, labor, energy, and other aspects that are used in food production. Also, in the United States, food is the largest category of material in landfills. This food waste could be wholesome food that helps feed families in need, instead of being thrown away. Below is the Food Recovery Hierarchy, which was created by the USDA and EPA to show the most effective ways to address food waste.
History of Farm to Food Bank
The Farm to Food Bank projects have three goals:
Oklahoma's Farm to Food Bank
Extra Resources
Farm to Food Bank Programs originated from the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the Farm Bill. Specifically, the 2018 Farm Bill amended the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to "pay for projects to harvest, process, package, or transport commodities donated by agricultural producers, processors, or distributors for use by emergency feeding organizations." Those projects are exactly what Farm to Food Bank programs are.
The Farm Bill, which usually is renewed every five years, is a multiyear law that covers various agricultural and food programs. Since the 1930s, Congress has passed 18 farm bills. It authorizes various programs with both mandatory - which is automatic spending not requiring Congress approval, and discretionary funding - which requires Congressional approval through the annual appropriations process.
- Reduce food waste in agriculture
- Address food insecurity
- Build relationships through the donation of food
Participating States
In fiscal year 2023, $3,772,000 were allocated to 28 TEFAP state agencies to have Farm to Food Bank projects. States and territories receiving funding for these programs are:
- Washington - $97,906
- Oregon - $59,167
- California - $665,958
- Arizona - $111,280
- Idaho - $20,859
- Wyoming - $7,760
- Colorado - $83,610
- Texas - $498,310
- Hawaii - $22,750
- Minnesota - $60,988
- Iowa - $37,898
- Missouri - $82,797
- Arkansas - $48,440
- Louisiana - $95,057
- Puerto Rico - $126,986
- Wisconsin - $67,034
- Illinois - $193,180
- Michigan - $149,495
- Indiana - $88,766
- Kentucky - $74,240
- Georgia - $163,093
- Florida - $321,122
- Ohio - $179,555
- West Virginia - $30,942
- Virginia - $104,517
- North Carolina - $164,742
- Pennsylvania - $202,434
- Delaware - $13,204
Below is a USDA map that outlines the states and territories conducting Farm to Food Bank projects.
Oklahoma's Farm to Food Bank
While federal funds haven't reached Oklahoma for the Farm to Food Bank program, Oklahoma has its own Farm to Food Bank project. The Oklahoma Food Banks and Conservation Partnership (Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission) partnered to provide a Farm to Food Bank program. There are more than 20 sites across the state. There are two ways to volunteers with the program:
Find more information here: https://www.okconservation.org/farmtofoodbank!Extra Resources
Find information from USDA regarding farming, conservation tools, farm records, and service centers!
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