How Ohio could hurt farmers, reduce nutrition, grow food waste in one foul swoop

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• This will be a defining year regarding the intersections of economic, agricultural and social assistance programs, writes Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank CEO Dan Flowers.
• Current programs allow the USDA to clear surpluses, maintain prices in the markets, keep farmers in business, and provide assistance to people who are food insecure.
• A recent vote in the Ohio House hit could Ohio farmers’ bottom lines, create more food waste, and reduce the most nutritious food offerings at the Foodbank.

Over the past two months, the Akron Beacon Journal has done some exceptional reporting on local food deserts, the high rates of food insecurity evident in the charitable food system over the past two years, and the state and federal funding cuts that threaten the safety net that the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and its 600 charitable partners provide. Indeed, 2025 is going to be a defining year regarding the intersections of economic, agricultural and social assistance programs, and this reporting has provided excellent sightlines into the field of debate.

There is no question that a healthy economy with high rates of employment and lower costs is a tide that lifts all boats. Food insecurity numbers follow macro trends in the U.S. economy, and we have watched lines shrink and grow according to energy, food and employment indicators for decades. But even the most prosperous economic eras in U.S. history have still left a significant percentage of the population on the margins, and we have to grapple with what that means for society at the policy level. 

Since 1973, the federal government has placed a nutrition title in the farm bill that funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and many other proven programs that reduce food insecurity in our country.

The marriage between farm and nutrition policy is not always obvious at first, and the current pauses and uncertainty in Congress surrounding how to deal with nutrition programs threatens to decouple the two, which we believe is a mistake.

In 2024, 24% of the food that was distributed by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank came from programs funded by the federal farm bill, the majority of that being TEFAP. Products that are available for food banks to select in TEFAP (and other similar programs) are linked to surpluses in the commodity markets. Remember government cheese and powdered milk? A lot of us do. And just like that, still today the USDA steps in and buys up selected products at the manufacturer level, clearing surpluses, maintaining prices in the markets, keeping farmers in business, and providing assistance to our food-insecure neighbors through food banks at the same time. It works.

The same is true with the Ohio Food and Agricultural Clearance Program funded by Ohio’s General Assembly. About 23% of the food distributed by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank in 2024 came via this program. Much of that food is produce grown by Ohio farmers, and much of that is surplus or slightly off spec, meaning it is still good to eat but will not likely make it to the market for retail sale.

The Ohio House of Representatives’ vote to reduce that funding in the amended version of House Bill 96 last week, if it holds, will hit Ohio farmers’ bottom lines this year, create more food waste, and reduce the most nutritious food offerings we have at the Foodbank.

There is a lot on the line for food banks and the people that rely on the safety net they provide right now. The known and possible cuts that the Akron Beacon Journal has reported on during recent weeks could net a 10% reduction in available products for our regional community in 2025 alone.

We have done our best to appeal to our policymakers on behalf of the people we serve, and many from both parties are listening and are trying to help. Perhaps others who are not yet convinced might consider that the health of the food system overall and the health of people in need are inextricably linked in this debate. 

We are calling upon the Ohio Senate to restore funding to Ohio’s food banks. We are also calling upon the federal government to restore funding cuts previously announced to nutrition programs, and to keep a strong nutrition title in the Farm Bill in 2025. You can join us by visiting www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/advocate to help advocate for these programs.

Dan Flowers is the president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.