From Farm to Food Shelf: Addressing Hunger in Minnesota
Farm to Food Shelf
Update for the House Agriculture Committee
Sourcing,
storing &
distributing
food 1 in 11
Minnesotans
need
Produce
Fresh fruits and vegetables
are the
largest untapped
source of healthy meals.
We’re working with farmers
and growers to provide edible
crops that would otherwise
go unharvested or unsold.
Farm 2 Food Shelf
Purpose
$1.1mm in FY18 and $1.1mm in FY19 used to reimburse Minnesota agriculture
producers and processors for costs incurred to harvest and package surplus fruits,
vegetables and other agricultural commodities that would otherwise go discarded
or sold in the secondary market.
Requirements
•
Produce must be distributed statewide
•
Produce must be sourced from Minnesota growers
Results (2018)
•
7.7 million pounds of fruits and vegetables donated to hunger relief across all
87 Minnesota counties (20% of total produce used in hunger relief)
•
48 growers participated
•
25 varieties of surplus produce donated
Milk
Minnesotans want access to
healthier food at their local
food shelf.
Milk is the second most
requested food item.
Current grant funding allows
us to meet roughly half the
demand from food shelves
and meal program partners.
MN Milk Grant
Purpose
$550,000 in FY18 and $550,000 in FY19 used by Feeding America food
shelves serving MN to purchase fresh, fluid milk from local processors and
make available to agency food shelf and meal program partners in the state.
Requirements
•
Milk must be purchased from a Minnesota milk processor
•
Food banks conduct a competitive bid or request verbal quotes
•
Grant funding allocated based on food bank’s TEFAP allocation % (i.e.
represents number of food insecure people)
Results (2017/2018)
•
674,000 ½ gallons of milk (2.9 million pounds) purchased for and
distributed to food shelf/meal programs in 87 MN counties
•
An estimated ½ of fresh, fluid milk client demand was met
Protein
Minnesotans want access to healthier food at their local food shelf.
Meat/Poultry/Fish are the most requested and in-
demand food items at food shelves.
Lean meat protein is a scarcely donated commodity in the Feeding
America network and costly for food shelves to purchase.
We’re trying to double the amount of lean meat protein distributed
to food shelf and meal program partners in the next five years.
The House Agriculture Committee is focused on sourcing, storing, and distributing food to combat hunger in Minnesota. The initiative connects surplus produce from local growers to food shelves, increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Grants support the purchase of milk and lean protein for distribution, prioritizing healthier options for those in need. With a mission to reduce food waste and provide nutritious meals, this program is making a significant impact on hunger relief efforts across the state.
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Presentation Transcript
Farm to Food Shelf Update for the House Agriculture Committee 1
Sourcing, storing & distributing food 1 in 11 Minnesotans need 2
Produce Fresh fruits and vegetables are the largest untapped source of healthy meals. We re working with farmers and growers to provide edible crops that would otherwise go unharvested or unsold. 3
Farm 2 Food Shelf Purpose $1.1mm in FY18 and $1.1mm in FY19 used to reimburse Minnesota agriculture producers and processors for costs incurred to harvest and package surplus fruits, vegetables and other agricultural commodities that would otherwise go discarded or sold in the secondary market. Requirements Produce must be distributed statewide Produce must be sourced from Minnesota growers Results (2018) 7.7 million pounds of fruits and vegetables donated to hunger relief across all 87 Minnesota counties (20% of total produce used in hunger relief) 48 growers participated 25 varieties of surplus produce donated 4
Milk Minnesotans want access to healthier food at their local food shelf. Milk is the second most requested food item. Current grant funding allows us to meet roughly half the demand from food shelves and meal program partners. 5
MN Milk Grant Purpose $550,000 in FY18 and $550,000 in FY19 used by Feeding America food shelves serving MN to purchase fresh, fluid milk from local processors and make available to agency food shelf and meal program partners in the state. Requirements Milk must be purchased from a Minnesota milk processor Food banks conduct a competitive bid or request verbal quotes Grant funding allocated based on food bank s TEFAP allocation % (i.e. represents number of food insecure people) Results (2017/2018) 674,000 gallons of milk (2.9 million pounds) purchased for and distributed to food shelf/meal programs in 87 MN counties An estimated of fresh, fluid milk client demand was met 6
Protein Minnesotans want access to healthier food at their local food shelf. Meat/Poultry/Fish are the most requested and in- demand food items at food shelves. Lean meat protein is a scarcely donated commodity in the Feeding America network and costly for food shelves to purchase. We re trying to double the amount of lean meat protein distributed to food shelf and meal program partners in the next five years. 7
