Hays County FB Joins Statewide Coalition To Reverse Recent Cuts To TX Food Bank Funding

Hays County Food Bank joined a statewide coalition of advocates Wednesday calling for the reversal of recent cuts to state food bank funding.

If implemented, the cuts will reduce food distribution to hungry Texans by nearly twenty million pounds.

The program under consideration, known as the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant, allows food banks to procure fresh produce from Texas farmers that would otherwise go to waste.

This grant enables farmers to reduce food waste by selling imperfect but good produce at a reduced cost that would otherwise be lost. Food banks receive this produce to redistribute to Texas families in need. 

“Hays County Food Bank is passionate about providing nutritious food. At each distribution, our goal is to make at least 1/3 of each offering be fresh produce. In 2020, we met that goal because of the produce we received through the help of this grant. Reducing our ability to procure fresh produce greatly diminishes the healthy foods we can hand out, thereby possibly impacting our clients health,” says Hays County Food Bank Executive Director, Eleanor Owen-Oshan.

Since 2001, the Surplus Agricultural Products grant has supported a cost-effective strategy to fight hunger, improve health, and reduce food waste in Texas.

The program is overseen by the Texas Department of Agriculture, which cut the program earlier this year on instructions from the Governor’s office to find savings. 

“With more Texans at risk of hunger than ever before, this is not the time to be cutting a critical source of healthy, fresh produce for our community,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the statewide network of food banks.   

Food insecurity in Texas jumped from 13% to 29% following the arrival of COVID-19. 

Access to healthy food is a key social determinant of health. Research shows that food insecurity leads to diet-related illness, and is linked to many adverse health effects.

January 27, 2021, is the Call-to-Action Day against this proposed cut. Hays County Food Bank asks that you act now if you believe that this grant program should be fully funded. 

• Visit haysfoodbank.org and scroll to ‘Stop the Cut’ on the homepage for instructions. 

• Email local Texas representative and tell them Texans want Surplus Agricultural Products Grant FY2021 fully funded.