GN1 FILE PHOTO courtesy of Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st team.
PRESS RELEASE
Glasgow News 1
Last week, Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st team members harvested produce at Dennison Farms. The fresh produce was donated to Feeding America – Kentucky’s Heartland, to help provide safe, reliable access to healthy foods in the local community.
According to Feeding America, each year, 119 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States. That equates to 130 billion meals and more than $408 billion in food that is thrown away annually. Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural 1st® are helping reduce food waste by connecting farmers to those with little to no access to fresh produce through its Farms to Food Banks program.
“This is the seventh year our team members have volunteered their time and worked alongside our customers to support Farms to Food Banks,” said Randy Barbee, community investment manager for Farm Credit Mid-America. “According to Feeding America, in 2021 alone, 13.5 million tons of farm produce was wasted, yet today, 34 million face hunger in the United States. This program is just one way we can partner with our customers to build relationships with our neighboring communities, address the issue of healthy food insecurity, and showcase the value of the agriculture industry at a local level.”
September is National Hunger Action Month, and the nationwide network of food banks works to end hunger by providing food and support to millions of people. In 2022, Feeding America, estimated 49 million people turned to food banks and community programs for help putting food on the table. Additionally, Farm Credit Mid-America’s partnerships help to supplement food deserts, or areas that have limited access to affordable and nutritious food, that are prevalent throughout the country, specifically in rural areas where access to a supermarket is often 10 miles or more away.
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