Texas Border Business
PHARR, TX – The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley joined a statewide coalition of advocates Wednesday, January 27, 2021, calling for the reversal of recent cuts to state food bank funding. If not stopped, these 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.
“With the impact of Covid-19 touching every aspect of our lives, this time of uncertainty and unprecedented demand across Texas and our nation is NOT the time to cut funds that put nutritious Texas-grown foods on the tables of so many families in desperate need. The Surplus Ag Grant MUST be fully funded in order to meet the needs of more Texans than ever facing the daily disaster of hunger.”-Stuart I.R. Haniff, MHA-CEO, Food Bank of the RGV.
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% upon 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.
About the Food Bank RGV
The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and has grown to be the largest charity in south Texas based on clients served. In fiscal year 2019, over 40 million pounds of food and fresh produce were distributed to Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties and the Feeding America network of food banks. Up to 146,000 people in the Valley experience food insecurity.
