Food banks and small farmers across the U.S. are grappling with the fallout from Trump administration cuts that have eliminated federally funded programs supplying fresh produce to low-income communities. Programs that paid local farmers to provide food for pantries have been abruptly terminated, leaving both struggling families and independent farmers in a state of uncertainty.
In Wisconsin, nearly 300 farms participated in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program last year, providing $4.2 million worth of food to over 250 pantries and schools. That funding has now been completely eliminated. Kristy Allen, a Wisconsin beekeeper, said she can no longer afford to supply local food banks after losing $40,000 in funding over the past two years.
In Illinois, 175 farmers who provided fresh food to nearly 900 community sites are now without funding, forcing food pantries to reduce offerings.
Farmers and hunger relief advocates have warned that without federal support, small farms will close, and food banks will struggle to keep up with increasing demand. Gov. Tony Evers called the cuts a betrayal of farmers, while Paul Towers, director of the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, said the decision threatens the survival of small farms.
“These programs weren’t wasteful spending,” Towers said. “They were a lifeline for farmers and families alike.”
Sources
- CBS Chicago – MBFC Rating
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – MBFC Rating
- The Fresno Bee – MBFC Rating
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