A food distribution center in Harlan, Iowa, said the freeze on federal grants has trickled down to them. And now, produce that’s supposed to feed people in need is going to waste.Flies hover over $3,000 worth of onions. Farm Table Delivery bought from farmers. The executive director says it doesn’t take much for winter storage crops to start turning bad. Farm Table buys the produce from farmers and then sends it out to food pantries and food banks.Farm Table’s partnership with the farmers is part of the Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. It’s made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. “We never would have purchased this many onions. We purchased them specifically for this program,” said Farm Table Executive Director Michelle Dill.In total, the food hub purchased around $40,000 worth of produce from farmers. It’s supposed to get reimbursed for that. But now Dill says it’s not clear if or when that will happen.”And then we received the email saying that the funds are frozen and that we could request reimbursement for anything that was delivered prior to January 19th but nothing that was delivered or purchased after Jan. 20,” Dill said.Dill said they’re looking at other ways to get the food donated. But they could be out of thousands of dollars if they don’t end up getting re-imbursed.She worries about how they’ll be able to keep serving fresh food to Iowans in need.”We look forward to it continuing; we certainly hope it does because the work isn’t done yet, and there’s more to do,” Dill said.In a statement to KETV, Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra said, “Ensuring that the most vulnerable Iowans have access to nutritious food is critical. Our office has been working with the USDA and the House Agriculture Committee to support our farmers and producers as federal funds are meticulously reviewed for waste, fraud, and abuse. I remain committed to passing a five-year Farm Bill that delivers relief for our producers and strengthens Iowa’s status as an agricultural powerhouse.”
A food distribution center in Harlan, Iowa, said the freeze on federal grants has trickled down to them. And now, produce that’s supposed to feed people in need is going to waste.
Flies hover over $3,000 worth of onions. Farm Table Delivery bought from farmers. The executive director says it doesn’t take much for winter storage crops to start turning bad.
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Farm Table buys the produce from farmers and then sends it out to food pantries and food banks.
Farm Table’s partnership with the farmers is part of the Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. It’s made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
“We never would have purchased this many onions. We purchased them specifically for this program,” said Farm Table Executive Director Michelle Dill.
In total, the food hub purchased around $40,000 worth of produce from farmers. It’s supposed to get reimbursed for that. But now Dill says it’s not clear if or when that will happen.
“And then we received the email saying that the funds are frozen and that we could request reimbursement for anything that was delivered prior to January 19th but nothing that was delivered or purchased after Jan. 20,” Dill said.
Dill said they’re looking at other ways to get the food donated. But they could be out of thousands of dollars if they don’t end up getting re-imbursed.
She worries about how they’ll be able to keep serving fresh food to Iowans in need.
“We look forward to it continuing; we certainly hope it does because the work isn’t done yet, and there’s more to do,” Dill said.
In a statement to KETV, Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra said, “Ensuring that the most vulnerable Iowans have access to nutritious food is critical. Our office has been working with the USDA and the House Agriculture Committee to support our farmers and producers as federal funds are meticulously reviewed for waste, fraud, and abuse. I remain committed to passing a five-year Farm Bill that delivers relief for our producers and strengthens Iowa’s status as an agricultural powerhouse.”
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