Volunteers pack boxes at the Maryland Food Bank in Halethorpe in this file photo from 2020. Photo by Elliot Jaspin
We think of early fall as a time of abundance – the peak of the growing and harvesting season. But for many Maryland families, scarcity at the dinner table is the norm.
Though it often goes unseen, hunger is a pervasive problem in our state. Right now, one in three Marylanders faces food insecurity – defined as a lack of consistent access to nutritious food. Scarcity of healthy food has been linked to challenges in school for children and chronic health issues for people of all ages. Hunger has massive implications for the future of our society and the strength of our economy.
At the Maryland Food Bank, we see the devastating impact of hunger on our neighbors every day. But we also know that hunger in America is a solvable problem. That’s why we are working urgently to get more delicious, nutritious and fresh food to people that need it, through our network of food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, schools and other distribution hubs.
Hunger doesn’t happen because we don’t have enough food. In fact, we hear stories of Maryland farmers who find themselves facing surpluses they can’t sell, meaning wasted effort and wasted food. Before becoming a part of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program with the Maryland Food Bank, Nice Farms Creamery, a family-run dairy farm in American Corner, had to make the difficult decision to dump 300 gallons of milk down the drain, because they were not able to find a buyer for it – at a time when sky-high numbers of Marylanders were experiencing food insecurity.
But there’s good news. The innovative LFPA federal program has been transformative for our ability to get fresh local food to hungry neighbors. The program has increased the Maryland Food Bank’s distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat and seafood by 25 percent in the past year alone.
Since 2023, the LFPA has provided $900 million to states and tribal nations to build partnerships between local food producers and organizations that battle food insecurity. The program honors the incredible diversity of our country’s food systems by requiring purchases from local farms, ranches and fisheries. It puts dollars directly into the pockets of small farmers and food producers, while also helping them to feed their communities.
In Maryland, we poured nearly $14 million into agriculture in our state last year. For Nice Farms Creamery, which partners with us through this initiative, it means going from scrapping good milk to tapping into new funds to nourish our communities.
What’s more, buying food locally is better for the environment. Because local food travels a shorter distance, buying from Maryland producers reduces harmful emissions – the share of greenhouse gas emissions related to the transport of locally sourced products is only 0.2%, compared to 19% for conventionally sourced products.
This new, innovative approach is working for our hungry neighbors and food producers in our state and in communities across the country. Without it, we face a gap of over $4 million annually, and the loss of an important source of nutritious food for people in need.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently recognized the importance of this program by investing additional funding, though the program is not yet permanent.
Right now, Congress has the power to support our continued investment in local farmers and our ability to buy and distribute fresh produce, meat, fish and dairy to our neighbors. The Farm Bill, our nation’s most important piece of agriculture and food legislation, is on the docket for Congress this year. Incorporating funding for local food in the Farm Bill is a clear, direct path to continuing the support we need, permanently. Without funding for the LFPA in the Farm Bill, we risk losing it altogether.
The Farm Bill is critically important for many reasons, including continuing government food assistance benefits and investing in agriculture across the country. The LFPA may not be a household name, but it’s been transformative for food banks across the country to provide highly nutritious meals to the people who most need them, all while we boost our local economy and reduce environmental impact.
For both the small family farm and the neighbor facing hunger, that’s a rare win-win-win. Let’s make this a season of abundance for every Marylander. We call on Congress to make this important program a permanent reality.