FRANKFORT, Ky. — As the state’s fruit and vegetable growing season hits full stride, farmers will once again have the chance to sell some of their "ugly" produce to the Farm to Food Banks program.
The Kentucky Assoc. of Food Banks (KAFB) pays farmers just below wholesale prices for produce that would not otherwise be sold because of cosmetic imperfections. "It might be a zucchini that is fatter on one end than the other or a tomato that is smaller than standard grocery store packaging," said Angie Allman, program coordinator.
Tamara Sandberg, KAFB executive director, said this marks the second year for which state funds have been available to purchase these foods that will go to low-income Kentucky families through the state’s food bank network.
"We help offset (farmers’) costs for taking that produce from the field, boxing it up and taking it to a food bank," she said.
Sandberg hopes to spend more than $640,000 with farmers this season in a program that was not originally funded when legislation created it in 2009. But Farm to Food Banks has managed to operate through other funding streams such as grants and donations from the private sector.
The 2014 General Assembly marked the first time state dollars to the tune of $1.2 million over a two-year period were allocated for the program. Because of that funding, more than 3 million pounds of produce were distributed through the Farm to Food Banks program, according to Sandberg.
"That was enough to fill a half of a plate of fruits and vegetables for 4.8 million meals, so a measurable impact has come about as a result of this," she said.
In addition to the benefits the program has produced for the families in need of food, its economic impact has also been beneficial. "Over 370 different Kentucky farmers benefited last year, and the average payment was $1,450. But there were actually 10 farmers that received over $10,000 from us last year, and that starts to really make an impact on a farmer’s bottom line," said Sandberg.
"It could make the difference between breaking even and ending up with a profit for the year." Even with a larger budget, she said the money ran out before they ran out of farmers who wanted to provide produce for the program.
One problem produce growers face is the amount of food left in the field that is considered seconds and unsellable at grocery stores or markets. Most of those seconds would be left if not for programs like Farm to Food Banks.
Sandberg said the program is modeled after a similar project that began in Ohio about two decades ago. "They get something like $19 million a year from the state for their Farm to Food Banks program," she said.
The 2016 Kentucky legislative session will be a budget session and Sandberg is already working to secure even more funds for the program.
"Hunger is not owned by any party and when a state’s leadership is willing to come together across party lines and do what’s best to help their most vulnerable citizens and their farmers, everybody benefits," she said.
Sandberg’s goal is to invite every member of the General Assembly to a produce distribution in their districts so they can see firsthand the benefits for constituents. She said the funding set aside for the program in the last budget session was welcome, but more is needed to reach the number of citizens in need of a quality food supply.
She noted not only does the program provide relief for the hungry and add income for farmers, but people who have access to healthy foods are usually healthier and spend less on health care issues.
For more information, visit www.kafb. org/farmstofoodbanks or call 606-256-0040.
