Feeding Florida hosted its very first network-wide farm tour for food bank procurement staff to visit farmer partners in South Florida counties to learn all about winter harvest and dairy production first-hand. They discussed current and ongoing industry challenges farmers face, learned more about each commodity they produce, and collaborated with one another.
The Feeding Florida network of food banks includes more than staff, partners, and donors. The unsung heroes of our work are the selfless and dedicated volunteer force that make our food banks’ missions possible. We celebrate these incredible volunteers who have made a significant impact on the communities we serve. It is an inspiration to our entire team to witness individuals from various backgrounds and walks of life come together to contribute their time and energy toward fighting hunger.
We have seen first-hand the sustainable measures Florida farmers and ranchers take to maintain our natural resources while preserving them for future generations. Southern Hill Farms took environmental stewardship very seriously and looked into innovative ways to irrigate the land and deal with the farm’s sandy terrain. They began implementing BMPs like drip irrigation to deliver water and fertilizer in precise amounts to the plants, preventing runoff.
Nutrition incentive programs like Feeding Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) make fresh, local produce affordable and accessible to food insecure and under-resourced Floridians. A healthier Florida is only going to be possible with healthier food options for ALL Floridians. That’s why FAB partners with a network of over 70 farmers, farmers markets, mobile markets and community grocery stores to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to Florida families.
Feeding Florida’s network has bridged the gap between providing food in-hand and educating people on how to handle that food and lead a healthier lifestyle. Feeding Florida and our food banks have established a robust statewide SNAP Ed program, Florida Nutrition Ed, to provide education and resources to enhance the health and well-being of the state’s residents. We interview the Director, Ginnifer Barber, to learn more.
Every September during Feeding America’s national effort, Hunger Action Month, we raise awareness about food insecurity and encourage people to take actions to combat hunger in a way that’s accessible and meaningful to them. The Feeding Florida network of food banks works tirelessly to combat hunger with support from partners, community organizations, staff, and generous people willing to help. You can join these ranks and make a difference in your community.
<p>It’s been over a week since Hurricane Idalia ripped through the Big Bend, and the Feeding Florida network of food banks have been non-stop ever since.</p> <p>Mobilized before Idalia made landfall, 9 food banks across the state immediately began assessing the damage and focused our attention and resources on the hard-hit rural areas, beginning mass […]
Feeding Florida’s efforts across the state have helped individuals and families in 23 counties, deploying critical resources through 44 mass distributions, agency drops, and site visits.
After disaster strikes, our food banks are ready to help. While we understand the steps and process to administering this help, we realize not everyone does. So how about a little inside peek into the process our statewide network and our food banks take on after a hurricane hits?
Mass feeding after a crisis really takes on an emergency approach. First you triage, and then you treat for long-term care. This is the process behind distributing food after a disaster because so many are left without food, water, electricity, and sometimes even homes.
By Friday, the group had set up 2 mega-distributions in the cities of Perry and Cross City where more than 2,000 households were able to obtain critical resources as they recover from the storm. The Feeding Florida network of food banks has been hard at work since even before Hurricane Idalia made landfall in the Big Bend area, preparing to mobilize food and other resources to affected communities.
