A leading lawmaker called it a win for families in need and for Florida agriculture. The Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget tackles food insecurity in rural Florida and helps farmers, which are key priorities for Senate President Ben Albritton. “No matter how prosperous our state is, unexpected and unplanned things happen that can cause food insecurity […]
By Max Klaver Stew — a big pot of it — with onions, potatoes and bell peppers. Maybe a little bit of meat, if they’re lucky, Jackie Brown muttered, chewing over potential dinner ideas for her family as she surveyed the produce refrigerator at the Feeding South Florida food bank in Pembroke Park on a […]
Each year, Feeding Florida’s tabling at the Children’s Day event at the Florida Capitol shines a spotlight on the vital role Florida’s farmers and ranchers play in feeding our communities. This yearly event serves as a powerful reminder of the collaborative spirit behind our Farmers Feeding Florida program, which connects Florida-grown food with families in […]
Florida Nutrition Ed works in every county to help families and individuals make healthier choices and therefor lead healthier lives. Using the The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) to provide the steppingstones for building a healthy, nutritious eating pattern, our team breaks down a quick guide to making informed, sustainable changes. With this guidance, individuals can improve the quality of their diets, meet important nutrient needs, and reduce the risk of certain health conditions.
Across the country, food banks are struggling to meet rising demand as the Trump Administration cancels $1 billion in food programs and Congress considers giving states responsibility for programs like food stamps. The changes come as anti-hunger advocates fear food insecurity in Florida is back on the rise. That $1 billion in cuts comes roughly equally from two USDA programs: the Local Food Purchase Assistance program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
Florida’s food banks could be set to feast on additional funding courtesy of the Senate’s proposed budget. Senate appropriators are offering $38 million to set up a grant program for charities that produce fresh food products in Florida. Another $12 million would fund grants to expand the state’s food banks.
The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government, chaired by President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford), today released its proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The Committee’s proposed budget includes critical funding to address food insecurity and support Florida farmers, both key priorities of Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula).
Fresh Access Bucks (FAB), a program of Feeding Florida, recently added 10 new grocery partners with locations that primarily serve rural Florida communities. The Florida Legislature funded Feeding Florida’s $1 million appropriations request for this program expansion focused on connecting customers at Florida’s rural grocers with access to more fresh fruits and vegetables, where affordable, local produce is often difficult to access.
With the 2025 legislative session fast approaching, Feeding Florida hopes lawmakers will help the organization expand a key partnership to provide more healthy food. Feeding Florida’s CEO, Robin Safley, says the association of nine member food banks hopes for more legislative support for its current partnership with growers.
This Thanksgiving, Feeding Florida, the state’s network of nine food banks serving all 67 counties, pauses to express heartfelt gratitude for the donors, partners, and communities who made this year’s hurricane relief efforts possible. In a season marked by multiple storms – Debby, Helene, and Milton – the Feeding Florida network rose to the challenge, delivering hope, fuel, and connection to families in need.
