300+ Farm, Faith, and Hunger Relief Leaders Urge Action on NC Food Purchase Funding

More than 300 North Carolina farmers, faith leaders, and hunger relief organizations are shining a spotlight on the unintended consequences of the state budget impasse – urging lawmakers to act on delayed funding that connects farms to food banks.

In a letter to the General Assembly, impacted growers and producers joined community and faith-based charities to highlight the vital nature of the longstanding, bipartisan partnership that provides food for families facing hunger while boosting revenue to local farms. The letter was hand-delivered to legislators by representatives of Feeding the Carolinas, our state association of food banks.

Right now, more than 1.6 million people are struggling to keep food on the table in North Carolina. That’s one out of every seven neighbors across the state. These funds are just as vital to local farms as they are to families facing hunger – and are becoming more and more important as the federal shutdown drags on. Our communities need this support.

– Eric Aft, Feeding the Carolinas Chair

Hunger in North Carolina has reached its highest point in a generation, while food banks and schools across the state have lost $30 million in federal funding to purchase food from local farms. The lost revenue in rural communities, in particular, is taking on even greater importance as the federal shutdown pushes even more families to seek food assistance. 

Though small in the scope of a biennial budget, the $9.1 million state investment in North Carolina-grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat is critical to meeting these challenges head on. Community leaders are raising the alarm that if lawmakers do not act soon, the state’s hunger relief system may reach a breaking point. 

Without the General Assembly's continued partnership on local food purchases, even less food will be available to help the growing number of families experiencing hunger — and many farms that were already struggling will have even less income. This means fewer jobs and lower wages in rural communities. Some farms may be forced to close altogether...

...These are exactly the kind of investments leaders should be making in challenging times: resources that help stabilize agriculture markets, invest in rural communities, and ensure no kid goes hungry in North Carolina.

– Letter from farmers, faith leaders, and hunger relief groups