Georgia’s Economy Helped by The Farm Bill

Feeding the Valley Food Bank volunteers in Columbus, Georgia, photo contributed.

In Georgia, agriculture is worth $83.6 billion to the $1.4 trillion economy. It’s been a dominant industry for nearly three centuries and is currently the number one industry in the state. Still, according to Feeding America, 1 in 9 adults in Georgia face hunger.

Frank Sheppard, President & CEO of Feeding the Valley Food Bank, Inc., photo contributed.

“Food insecurity continues to plague people around the state post-pandemic,” said Frank J. Sheppard, President and CEO of Feeding the Valley Food Bank. I’ve seen people walk miles in the heat of July to get 60 lbs of food… waiting for 3-4 hours lining up at 6 a.m. for a 10 a.m. opening.”

Georgia has one of the highest poverty rates in the country and food insecurity continues to be exacerbated by stubbornly high food prices, and food deserts in the state. Food deserts are large areas of land where residents struggle to have access to healthy food options, particularly produce because there are no grocery stores. These issues are further compounded by high fuel prices when people have to travel 20 to 30 miles to buy food.

“Rampant inflation is eroding the purchasing power of the impoverished,” said Frank.

For years, food banks have been providing support to residents struggling to eat. Feeding Georgia is an organization comprised of seven regional Feeding America food banks. These food banks work with more than 2,000 pantries to distribute food throughout the state to over 150,000 unique individuals each week. Feeding Georgia also collaborates on strategic initiatives and advocates for food banks statewide so that the food banks have the resources they need to feed hungry neighbors.

“Feeding Georgia does what it does so that the food banks can do what they do—feed people,” said Frank. They are key in planning for our state.”

Feeding Georgia also advocates for policies and legislation that support their mission to end hunger – like the Farm Bill.  

“The Farm Bill is critical to Georgia’s number one industry, Agriculture, and to the food insecure Georgians, many of whom qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is funded in the Nutrition Title of the Bill. Every $1 of SNAP purchasing of household groceries in grocery stores generates $1.50 in local economic leverage in communities throughout Georgia,” said Danah Craft, Executive Director of Feeding Georgia. “And 15 cents of every SNAP dollar are spent in local Farmers Markets,” she added.

“The Farm Bill provides Commodity price and income supports, disaster assistance, conservation, research, insurance, and credit programs that Georgia farmers must have.”  Danah Craft, Executive Director, Feeding Georgia

As food banks have reached capacity and are struggling to fill in the food provision gaps, bills like the Farm Bill can help them bridge those gaps while supporting Georgia’s farmers as well. Not only does SNAP help individuals access food at grocery stores and farmer’s markets, but the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) purchases commodities grown in the United States to be distributed by food banks. For rural areas in Georgia, TEFAP foods account for 40%-50% of the inventory for emergency food assistance.

“We form statewide partnerships with public and governmental organizations, corporations, foundations, and different industries to secure and leverage resources to support our member food banks.”- Feeding Georgia

Executive Director, Feeding Georgia, photo Daemon Baizan.

Many Georgians face an impossible choice each month. People are having to choose between medication, fuel, rent, and food. The nutrition programs and policies funded in the Farm Bill can be the difference in someone being able to afford to feed themselves and their families.

Craft says it has never been more important to Georgia farmers and its food-insecure residents for Congress to reauthorize a Farm Bill that keeps these programs strong.

Feeding the Valley Food Bank volunteers in Columbus, Georgia, photo contributed.