Harvesting Hope: Danah Craft on the Farm to Food Bank Program and the Future of the Farm Bill

Danah Craft, the Executive Director of Feeding Georgia, at warehouse: photo credit Daemon Baizan.

Danah, could you start by telling us about Feeding Georgia and its mission?

Feeding Georgia is a Supporting Organization of seven Feeding America food banks who distribute emergency food assistance through a statewide network of more than 2,000 partner pantries and agencies. Our primary goal is to educate the public about the impact of their work, coordinate sharing food, emerging trends, and best practices among these food banks, and ensure that they have resources they need by working statewide with policymakers and funders who are working statewide.  Together we lead a statewide effort to end hunger in Georgia.

How does Feeding Georgia work with the individual food banks, and what kind of projects do you support?

The executive directors of the seven regional food banks form the Board of Feeding Georgia. They guide our organization’s strategic planning, identify project needs, and allocate resources. We work on policy advocacy at both the federal and state levels to address issues that impact our neighbors in need.

One of those projects is the Farm to Food Bank Program. Tell us about that and its impact here in Georgia.

DC: The Farm to Food Bank Program is a remarkable initiative that began around a decade ago. It fosters partnerships with Georgia farmers, encouraging them to harvest and donate surplus produce, including aesthetically imperfect fruits and vegetables that might not meet retail standards. Initially, we received about 3 million pounds of fresh produce annually, but last year, we received an impressive 30 million pounds. We hope to see this number continue to grow. This success is a testament to the dedication of Georgia’s generous farmers and their commitment to reducing food insecurity in our state.

How can farmers get involved in the Farm to Food Bank Program?

Farmers interested in participating can contact Feeding Georgia or the regional cooperative we work with, known as the Southeast Regional Cooperative (SERC). SERC has outreach specialists who assist farmers in identifying their peak harvest times, packaging requirements, and scheduling truck pickups.

This program sounds incredibly impactful. How does it benefit both food banks and farmers?

The Farm to Food Bank Program is a win-win. It provides fresh, nutritious produce to those in need while supporting local farmers by reducing food waste and helping them contribute to their communities. Fresh produce remains one of the largest untapped sources of donated food for our network and Georgia’s farmers have been incredibly generous.

Feeding Georgia website homepage.

It’s great to see such positive growth in this program. Now, let’s move on to discussing the Farm Bill and its significance. How does this legislation affect Feeding Georgia and the state of Georgia as a whole?

The Farm Bill is of utmost importance to a state like Georgia, where agriculture is the leading industry. It plays a crucial role in supporting programs that benefit both farmers and our neighbors in need. The nutrition title of the Farm Bill funds programs like The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps food-insecure individuals access food through purchases at local grocery stores. Additionally, the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides USDA commodities to food banks. In Georgia, these commodities constitute 40 to 50% of emergency food assistance food inventory in rural areas.

The program not only aids those facing hunger but also supports Georgia growers, who supply eggs, poultry, and peanuts to USDA purchasing programs like TEFAP.

 We’ve heard that the SNAP program benefits grocers and local communities. Could you explain how it contributes to local economies and keeps grocery stores open?

 Absolutely. Every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.70 in economic leverage within local communities. In rural areas, where food deserts are prevalent, SNAP benefits are crucial in sustaining grocery stores. Without this support, many grocery stores might have to close their doors.

The increase in need and the sustained demand are concerning. Could you provide more insight into the challenges that Feeding Georgia and the food banks are currently facing?

Danah Craft, the Executive Director of Feeding Georgia: photo credit Daemon Baizan.

As we emerged from the pandemic, we saw a continued increase in demand that exceeded pre-pandemic levels. The rising costs of food and fuel have strained household budgets. While the demand increased, some COVID-era programs that supported our network ended, leading to a decrease in available food. Food banks responded by purchasing food to meet the need or by providing less food to those in need. This is not a sustainable solution. To address this challenge, we are advocating for increased resources in the Farm Bill, such as doubling the TEFAP USDA commodities provided to our neighbors in need.

We’d like to shift gears and talk about a special event. Could you tell us about the upcoming Wild Hog Supper in January?

The 61st annual Wild Hog Supper is scheduled for January 7th at the Georgia Freight Depot. It’s a celebration of Georgia’s agriculture, co-hosted by the Georgia Agriculture Commissioner, Tyler Harper, and the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. This event serves as a fundraiser for our Farm to Food Bank Program. It’s a great opportunity for legislators and other community leaders to come together, enjoy some fantastic barbecue and peach ice cream, and support our Farm to Food Bank program.

Sounds like a fantastic event. If folks can’t attend, how can people support Feeding Georgia’s mission and the Farm to Food Bank Program?

There are several ways people can help. Donations are always appreciated, as the food banks can leverage bulk purchasing to acquire food at a lower cost or use the funds to send refrigerated trucks to pick up donated food from Farm to Food Bank, for example.  Volunteers can also donate their time at regional food banks, helping sort, package, and distribute food. We also encourage individuals to advocate for our network by contacting their elected officials and expressing the importance of the Farm Bill to Georgia’s farmers and food banks. We need a strong Farm Bill that strengthens nutrition programs like TEFAP.

Danah, thank you for sharing all this valuable information about Feeding Georgia’s mission and the essential programs that support those facing food insecurity in the state. It’s clear that your work has a profound impact on Georgia’s communities.

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our mission and programs and the impact that the Feeding Georgia food banks have in their communities. Together with our members, we are leading the effort to end hunger in Georgia.  We can’t do it without the help of the community.