WFLA: Florida food program aims to fill gap following federal cuts
Florida food program aims to fill gap following federal cuts
by: Ty Russell
Posted: Aug 14, 2025 / 07:32 PM EDT
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Food insecurity is a growing problem since the COVID-19 pandemic. The umbrella organization Feeding Florida has counted close to 700,000 people in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas who don’t have access to affordable and nutritious food. These were the latest figures available from 2023.
This year, the Trump Administration ordered USDA to help reduce federal spending by slashing a program that helped food banks purchase locally grown food from farmers. Now, Florida has announced funding for a similar statewide program to help fill the gap.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, along with state Senate President Ben Albritton, visited Feeding Tampa Bay to announce the Farmers Feeding Florida program.
“We have food insecurity all over this state,” Simpson said.
State lawmakers and the governor approved $38 million in the recent state budget for the Farmers Feeding Florida initiative. $28 million is meant to buy excess crops and milk from Florida farms, which food banks will distribute. $10 million is to expand food banks and pantries, especially in rural areas.
The commissioner says the program has already helped avoid 170,000 gallons of milk being wasted since July 1.
“We are taking farmers that are producing really good food, as good as food you can buy anywhere, and we are packaging it and giving it to food insecure people,” Simpson said.
Sen. Albritton originally wanted closer to $50 million overall for the effort. However, after budget negotiations, the lower amount was able to be passed. However, Albritton said more is being done to help those in need.
“Is the state taking a look at how we may be able to offset some of these costs of those federal cuts in programs like this? The answer is yes,” Albritton said.
Since this is taxpayer money, the commissioner said there are steps to make sure those dollars are being tracked and spent correctly.
“The loads that we are taking in, the processing of part of that food, and getting it out to these families. It’s a very transparent process you can probably go on our website and follow the dots,” Simpson said.
Feeding Tampa Bay said it has already begun the process of finding additional places to help get food for those in need. A spokesperson said the organization will add to its Feeding Minds School Pantry program and target areas that need better access to healthy foods. The USDA program that recently ended also had an impact on school pantry programs.
Original story published by WFLA News Channel 8 on August 14>>
