Richmond, VA – November 11, 2024 – The Federation of Virginia Food Banks, with support from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is delivering thousands of pounds of fresh, Virginia-grown apples to families across the Commonwealth this holiday season. With support of the Federal Farms to Food Banks initiative, approximately 9,500 bushels of Virginia apples will be distributed to neighbors facing hunger in November and December. These apples will reach families through a network of more than 1,100 neighborhood food pantries, preventing produce from going to waste and benefiting local growers.
‘Farms to Food Banks’ was established in the 2018 Farm Bill and Virginia has received an annual grant to facilitate the procurement of surplus agricultural products for the emergency food system. This year, the full $114,000 grant was put toward rescuing apples at two local orchards. Like many states throughout the country, Virginia’s favorable growing season and other market conditions resulted in an apple surplus.
“Agriculture is the number one private industry in Virginia, yet more than 950,000 Virginians—or 1 in 9—will experience food insecurity this year,” said Eddie Oliver, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. “We know that Virginia farmers share our goal of ensuring everyone has the nutrition they need to thrive. Farms to Food Banks and the Virginia Agriculture Food Assistance Program (VAFAP) are two great programs that help us do just that while supporting the agricultural communities that power our state’s economy.”
The influx of apples this season follows the Federation’s large-scale procurement of locally raised beef from Seven Hills Foods in Lynchburg. Our food banks distributed more than 17,500 pounds of ground beef through VAFAP. Last year, the Federation partnered with a total of 65 local agricultural producers, moving more than 2.8 million pounds of nutritious food from farms to families in need.
“This type of partnership is extremely beneficial for Virginia, as it helps to address food insecurity and support local agriculture,” said VDACS Commissioner Joseph Guthrie. “Producers are compensated for their harvest cost, nutritious food is not wasted, and additional food resources are available to food banks throughout the Commonwealth.”
VAFAP provides a valuable channel for farmers to give back while taking advantage of an additional source of revenue. Farmers receive a state tax credit of up to 50% of the market value for surplus produce donations. With more than 40,000 farms, 97% of which are family-owned, the Commonwealth’s growers play a pivotal role in the state’s food systems.
This holiday season, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and its partners urge all Virginians to come together to support neighbors in need and celebrate the generosity of the state’s farmers, ensuring every family has access to nutritious, locally grown food.
To learn more about the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, visit vafoodbanks.org or:
Contact:
Patricia Escobar-Chena
Marketing Coordinator
Federation of Virginia Food Banks
Email: pescobarchena@vafoodbanks.org
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The Federation of Virginia Food Banks, a collaborative network of seven regional food banks and over 1,100 local pantries, is dedicated to eliminating hunger and enhancing nutrition equity across the Commonwealth. We leverage our collective strengths to build partnerships at the intersection of hunger and health and innovate food distribution for more than 900,000 Virginians in need of a helping hand. Together, we aim to build healthier, more resilient communities, ensuring that access to nutrition becomes a cornerstone of wellbeing for all Virginians. Learn more and join the movement at vafoodbanks.org.
