Working with Senate President Ben Albritton, Simpson secured $10 million for his Department for infrastructure improvements within the Feeding Florida network, from the state’s Rural Infrastructure Fund. Another $3 million was allocated on a recurring basis for ongoing food bank operations.
And thanks to record funding for Farmers Feeding Florida last fiscal year, nearly 58 million pounds of local food was recovered, with the infrastructure grant increasing the ability to get that food to banks in rural communities.
“We’re proud of the amount of fresh, Florida-grown food reaching families through Farmers Feeding Florida,” said Simpson, who is seeking re-election. “But in many rural communities, that final link has been missing. These investments strengthen the infrastructure needed to connect Florida farmers with Florida families, ensuring children have access to fresh milk and parents can bring fresh fruits and vegetables home to their tables.”
Statewide, the grant is funding some 150 projects, including 20 new food pantries, 113 pantry expansions and 17 transportation and logistics projects. That includes 24 new vehicles for the network’s fleet, which will lead to 45 new route stops and improved service at 175 existing stops.
Half of all new projects under the grant are focused on school pantries.
“Across Florida, and especially in our rural communities, access to healthy food depends on more than supply. To increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables, we have to build capacity at the community level so that food can get to the people who need it most,” Feeding Florida CEO Robin Safley said.
“This means building new pantries where fresh food is scarce and getting coolers and trucks for those pantries who don’t have a way to keep food cold. This ‘last mile’ is where the work gets real.”
Jewish Family & Community Services operates the Baker County Food Pantry, which opened in December at the Keller Center through a partnership with the Baker County School District.
The rural county is geographically dispersed and has limited transportation and grocery store access. The new refrigerated truck funded under the Rural Infrastructure Fund will allow the food pantry to expand its reach, including through pop-up mobile distributions.
“The Baker County Food Pantry is just one example of the incredible capacity we’re building across our food bank’s region. With 38 infrastructure projects underway, our partner food pantries will be able to provide an estimated additional 925,000 meals a month,” Feeding Northeast Florida CEO Susan King said.
“We understand the families we serve need easier access to fresh products, like carrots and milk and beef. The families here in Macclenny didn’t have that before the expansion, and we’re incredibly grateful to be able to provide it moving forward.”
