The federal government plans to spend up to $1.2 billion purchasing food produced by U.S. farmers negatively impacted by retaliatory tariffs initiated in response to President Donald Trump’s foreign economic policies.
The food will be distributed to the nation’s food banks, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and trickle down to food pantries, soup kitchens and community-service organizations via nutrition-assistance programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture program accounts for one-tenth of a $12 billion federal “short-term” financial aid package aimed at farmers. Walnuts, pears, lentils, lemons and limes, cranberries and beef are among 29 products targeted for purchase in four phases over 12 months beginning in December. Multiple phases are needed to accommodate growing cycles.
While the program, in theory, should be good news for local organizations committed to feeding the needy, Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff says he won’t be able to assess the impact until January.
He said the nonprofit has enjoyed a good relationship with the USDA. This year, he estimated, of 12 million pounds of food collected, he expects USDA aid to account for 2 million.
“Perhaps, with the tariff mitigation [effort], it will be more” he said. “All we know,” he said, is “there will be more truckloads.”
The nonprofit expects to meet its 2019 goal of 10.5 million to 11 million pounds of food, without anything additional from the new federal program. So that extra food “will be a surplus that [could] require us to increase our capacity,” said Schiff, depending on how much is delivered. If more is delivered than the food bank can currently handle, then additional fundraising could be needed to pay for more staffing, transportation and processing.
While Schiff is taking a wait-and-see approach on the new federal program, Sarah Shaw, food-pantry manager of the Jonnycake Center of Westerly Inc., says additional food is always welcome.
The nonprofit offers everything from financial assistance to thrift-shop vouchers, but since its start in 1975, “food has been the mission,” she said.
Jonnycake serves roughly 300 households and 700 individuals each month. Its food-pantry team spends about $6,800 a month on average at the food bank, Roch’s Fresh Foods, Rhody Fresh and local grocery stores, purchasing roughly 14,000 pounds of food. In addition, the center receives 5,750 pounds of donated food and fresh produce each month.
Schiff said he supports the program but would have preferred food banks had a voice in which foods will be purchased, rather than buying solely from farmers “hurt the most based on the tariffs.”
Many of those reliant on food banks are families looking to piece together meals, he said, adding: “You can’t just hand a family two bags of apples and say good luck with that.”
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, Gowdey-backus@PBN.com.
