Cuts in USDA funding to affect programs that get food to schools and food banks

(WJAR) — The United States Department of Agriculture is set to cut more than $1 billion of its funding towards programs like local food purchase assistance cooperative agreement programs and local food for schools’ cooperative agreement.

These are programs that pay farmers to provide food for schools and food banks.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank receives about a third of its food from the USDA.

“We were anticipating between now and at the end of the fiscal year, which is September 30th, 20 or more truckloads of food,” said Andrew Schiff the CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “But 14 that we know have been cancelled, and we’re wishing to see what happens with the other, but it’s possible they’ll all be cancelled, that’s over 500,000 pounds of food.”

The trucks would have been full of fresh produce, and now, leaders are searching for other options.

But as the need grows higher, their mission will stay the same.

“We can turn to our US Delegation and we’re asking them to pressure the USDA to make up for these cuts and let us know what their plans are for the future,” continued Schiff. “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure the food pantries are supplied with enough food to serve everyone in need.”