Part 1: From Farm to Family
In this series we take a look at food banks in the United States of America, where there are many programs distributing food stuffs to people in need. For the first part in this series, we take a look at a food bank program in California and its successes in distributing fresh produce across the golden state.
Food banks in California have come to together to create a stable distribution system for fresh vegetables and fruit, in a program called the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB). This association and its Farm to Family program distribute fresh produce from farmers to people in need of food throughout California. Its distribution network effectively moves fresh produce from farms to urban areas, often far from agricultural areas where the food is grown.
California Association of Food Banks estimates 80 million pounds (about 36,000 tons) of produce distribution in 2009. (Photo courtesy of California Association of Food Banks)
The program started in response to the sharp rise in food prices and an increase in unemployment, as well as the decrease in the total amount of canned food and cereal available for donation from food manufacturers; this decrease was due to increased efficiency in supply chain management, thereby decreasing surplus food available for food banks. In our recent economic environment, the gap between the amount of food available to food banks and the amount food needed by working-poor families has been widening. In efforts to mend this gap, food banks across the country moved to collect excess fruit and vegetables from farms and distribute them to the hungry. In California, where there was an abundance of agriculture yet still the hungry were still not receiving enough food, the CAFB started the Farm to Family program in 2006.
Food collection for the program begins at farms with excess produce that otherwise might be dumped. Product that is not marketable is separated at the packinghouses, with expenses covered either by the farm or by CAFB, and is donated or sold to CAFB for a few cents per kilogram. Farmers are happy to help those in need through food banks. Dan Van Groningen, Van Groningen & Sons, Inc. recalls leaving some produce in the field, rather than harvesting it. With the Farm to Family program, he says, “now we know there is a home for this product, then we will actually harvest it. We like the feeling that this product is gonna go to needy families.” ¹
The Farm to Family program then ships roughly 50 truckloads of produce per week to food banks across the state in large bins, which are repackaged to smaller bags in the food bank warehouses by volunteers. These are then distributed through food pantries, soup kitchens and other means. While the idea seems simple enough, the program could not work without the support of many people. Gary Maxworthy, the Farm to Family founder and a board member of SF Food Bank, describes the main requirements for a program distributing perishable foods: “you need a refrigerated space, you need volunteers to be able to sort it, you need to be able to distribute it within a few days.”
Through the efforts of CAFB, fruit and vegetables now make up roughly 60% of all foodstuffs distributed by the San Francisco Food Bank. This figure is roughly 50% at the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Both are truly impressive figures, considering that only 5 years ago, the percentage of fresh produce distributed was less than 10%.
Fresh vegetables and fruit are handed out at pantries like this. Leaflets on maintaining a healthy diet are also handed out at pantries. (Photo courtesy of California Association of Food Banks)
Research shows that poor diet is leading to a higher rate of obesity among low-income families including young children.² The Farm to Family program not only helps families facing economic hardships, but also helps individuals adopt a nutritious diet of fruit and vegetables. Michael Flood, the executive director of LA Regional Food Bank, says that the program is important for bringing in nutritious products for clients who “may not have access to these items, or can’t really afford them, given their food budgets.” A mother interviewed at a distribution site echoes that statement: “It means more healthy food for my kids.”
Vicki Escarra, the president of Feeding America, says that there is “an almost unlimited supply of produce that’s not being adequately distributed,” and praises the Farm to Family program as an innovative solution.³
In Japan, 2HJ does not have an extensive network like CAFB at the moment. But the CAFB’s program inspires us to establish a similar program in Japan in the future.
We also welcome your comments and thoughts. Mail us at info@2hj.org and follow us on Twitter for the latest news about food banking in Japan (@2HJ_en in English, @2ndharvestjapan in Japanese).
References
¹ All quotations come from a video on the Farm to Family program, linked to from the California Association of Food Banks website unless otherwise specified.
² American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 79, No. 1, 6-16, January 2004
³ The New York Times, California’s Food Banks Go Locavore
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