Farm to Family program provides fresh produce for food insecure
EL CENTRO — In 2017, the Imperial Valley Food Bank received nearly 1.5 million pounds of food from farmers through the Farm to Family program, food that was essential in allowing the underprivileged to eat wholesome produce they otherwise could not afford.
The food insecurity rate in Imperial Valley is estimated at 17 percent for all residents, and 33 percent for Imperial County children, according to IVFB. These rates remain one of the worst in the nation and the highest in childhood hunger in the state of California.
“The Imperial Valley Food Bank’s mission is ‘Fighting Hunger — Bringing Health and Hope’ to the Imperial Valley,” Sara Griffen, IVFB executive director, told Imperial Valley Press.
“Fresh produce is key to achieving our mission. For those who are struggling to make ends meet, making healthy choices may not be the most budget-friendly options. Because of the generosity of the local farming community, low-income families, seniors and individuals are able to prepare meals in higher nutritional value.”
Amount of fresh produce varies
“The amount of fresh produce the Imperial Valley Food Bank receives from local farmers, packing sheds and through the California Association of Food Bank’s Farm to Family program changes from year to year depending on various factors such as market value,” Griffen said. “Last year, 1,497,498 pounds — or 31 percent of food provided by IVFB — was local produce. At the end of June, IVFB had received 809,000 pounds of fresh produce. Based on the Feeding America value of food, that number is the equivalent of $1.4 million.”
Most of the fresh produce is delivered during the busy growing season from autumn through spring, Griffen said.
“As one might expect, the summer season in the Imperial Valley is much slower than during the growing season.
The season really begins in October/November and slows down as the heat ramps up. This year, however, corn season ran almost up until July.”
More and more donations have been received on average each year, Griffen said.
“Farmers have steadily increased their donations to the Food Bank for about 18 years,” she said.
Farm to Family
The California Association of Food Banks’ Farm to Family program works with farmers, ranchers, packers and shippers to move produce grown throughout the state from the field to food banks, including IVFB.
Farmers can donate produce directly to the association, or they can work with Farm to Family to get a modest reimbursement that helps cover harvest and packaging costs. Donated perishable items include vegetables, fruit, grains, dairy, eggs and meat. Food banks get a variety of nutritious products delivered regularly, and farmers have a reliable destination for excess product.
Healthy produce can be hard to come by for underprivileged residents who have limited money to purchase meals. This means that poor folks may end up eating unhealthy fare high in carbohydrates and sugars because foods chock full of these ingredients are generally cheaper than more nutritious options.
According to IVFB, many low-income families turn to convenience or fast foods that are cheaper but may lead to diet-related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Farm to Family helps span the gap between California’s surplus produce and people in need. Founded in the late 1990s by San Francisco Food Bank volunteer Gary Maxworthy, the California Association of Food Banks has grown Farm to Family into the nation’s leading produce recovery program.
More than 160 growers contribute about 50 varieties of produce to Farm to Family, according to ICFB. This results in more than 160 million pounds of California farm products being distributed each year to the California Association of Food Banks’ 40-plus member food banks and their network of 6,000 schools, churches, senior centers, soup kitchens and other community venues.
For more information about ICFB, visit http://www.ivfoodbank.com.