Kansas food banks, produce farmers blindsided by USDA's $1B funding cut
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The United States Department of Agriculture cut $1 billion of federal funds dedicated to two programs. The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program is geared toward Kansas schools. Meanwhile, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) targets local food banks.
The goal was to incentivize local organizations to purchase from Kansas farmers. In the case of the Kansas Food Bank, it kept them buying produce in-state.
The LFPA helped to open additional markets for Kansas produce. Because of the state's climate, fresh fruits and vegetables are difficult to grow. With the program hitting the chopping block, Kansas produce growers will likely be a rarer sight, and the locally stocked shelves of the Kansas Food Bank may soon need a new source.
'There's nothing better for a healthy diet than fresh produce, right? And you take that away,' Kansas Food Bank CEO Brian Walker said.
The program, which started in 2023, has been paying dividends in its two-year lifespan, according to Walker. In 2024, the food bank spent $1.7 million in federal funds on Kansas-grown produce.
'We'll try to do our best to purchase them locally, but it's just not feasible because they're not going to grow any extra product because they know that we're not here to buy it this year,' Walker said.
USDA cancels $1B funding for local food programs and schools, will hit Kansas farms
He says the LFPA succeeded in its goal of enriching Kansas farmers. Keeping those dollars within state lines also encouraged those farmers to diversify their crops or grow a surplus.
'We were able to get a real fresh product to them. Most of the time, we picked it that morning,' Ron Jirak, with Jirak Brothers Produce, said.
For Jirak, the surplus is around 10% of his crop.
'If we'd have known, say, back in October, November that this program wasn't going to be there, we just wouldn't have ordered plants and seed and materials for production in the Spring,' he said.
The program's cancellation leaves food banks without the funds to buy the excess, putting producers into limbo.
'I have to find a place for the 10% now because I'm kind of locked into my production at this time,' Jirak said.
Having extra products and nowhere to put them away hurts a supplier's bottom line and a distributor's clients.
'In the past, we were able to put that food on the table, they didn't have to buy it at the grocery store, and they could spend those dollars on other things,' Walker said.
He says the food bank will have to ramp up its fundraising efforts without the additional federal funds. Jirak says that even though he's disappointed and expects to feel the loss, he's confident they'll pull through.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
3 hours ago
- Business Wire
Pompeian's Sunrise Olive Ranch Olive Oil Earns Global Recognition for Quality and Sustainability
BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pompeian, America's #1 olive oil brand, has earned top honors at three of the world's most prestigious olive oil competitions, a testament to the exceptional quality of its California-grown oils and its ongoing commitment to sustainable, innovative farming. At the heart of these accolades is Sunrise Olive Ranch, located in California's Cuyama Valley. The ranch was the first olive farm in North America to earn the Sustainably Grown ® Certification from SCS Global Services, anchoring Pompeian's bold commitment to certify 100% of its farms by 2030. To date, 30% of Pompeian's olive oil farms have already achieved this certification. At Sunrise Olive Ranch and across the world, Pompeian's dedication to continuous improvement is reflected in its sustainable practices, which have been recognized with the prestigious Zurich International Olive Oil Award (IOOA) for sustainability and innovation, making Pompeian the only American brand to receive this honor. In addition, Pompeian received three Gold Medals at the 2025 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition and multiple honors at the 2025 Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, including Best of Class, Best Delicate – Domestic, two Golds, and a Silver Medal. 'Our dream is to transform the olive oil industry through sustainability and high-quality olive oil,' said Paula Lopes, Pompeian's VP of Quality, R&D, and Sustainability. 'These awards honor the growers and innovators working to make better olive oil for people and the planet.' Pompeian continues to lead with purpose, producing olive oils that reflect a deep commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability on the farm, in the bottle, and at every table. Learn more about Pompeian's sustainability practices and vision for the future. About Pompeian, Inc. Pompeian is America's #1 olive oil brand, with a line of best-selling vinegars and a variety of cooking sprays. Farmer-owned and Baltimore-based since 1906, Pompeian is a family of olive farmers and olive oil craftsmen whose passion, expertise, and dedication bring the best-tasting, highest-quality olive oils to kitchens everywhere. Upholding the highest quality standards, Pompeian conducts daily testing through their in-house quality assurance team in the state-of-the-art Pompeian Quality Control and Research & Development Center ensuring each bottle is always at peak freshness. Inspired by heritage and tradition, Pompeian products are rooted in authenticity and crafted for quality and great taste. Learn more at
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Be delighted by local farmers & small businesses at new Johnson County general store
The old white house at 11405 Johnson Drive, just west of the heart of downtown Shawnee, has hosted several occupants over the years: a law office, a chiropractor's clinic, a gift shop called The Red Thread. On Wednesday, Franklin General Store opened in the space. Owners Brooke and Dave Franklin have stocked it with a curated blend of the practical and the artisanal: organic strawberries from Happy Hollow Farm, bread from Overland Park's Wooden Spoon KC, and small-batch cheeses from Hemme Brothers Creamery — all made without preservatives, artificial colors, or hard-to-pronounce chemicals. 'Besides farmers markets, there aren't a lot of opportunities for local farmers to get their products out there,' said Brooke, who previously worked for the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service, an agency that helps farmers become more sustainable. 'I wanted to create a place where you could go to get local, support local, and also know you're getting clean ingredients.' Franklin General Store carries goods from about 50 local farms or producers. The store was developed with help from a $55,000 SEED (Shawnee Entrepreneurial and Economic Development) loan, part of a city program that supports small business growth downtown. The loan is partially forgivable as jobs are created or other goals are met. The store offers rotating baked goods (on opening day, it was a peach bar) and plans to roll out grab-and-go sandwiches soon, made with local bread, meats, and produce. On tap: kombucha. In the cooler: pies, chicken sausages, steaks and other local meats. And tucked in one aisle, a collection of lotions and balms that wouldn't look out of place in a high-end apothecary — but come from nearby farms. It's not all edible. Franklin's also stocks Valley Feed from Bonner Springs for backyard chickens, plus birdseed and native grass seeds to support pollinators and local wildlife. Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Franklin's aims to serve the growing number of daytime strollers exploring downtown Shawnee. 'There's more nightlife around here now, but we're also seeing more people walking around during the day,' Brooke said. 'So we're trying to serve some of those people and take advantage of a little bit of that new foot traffic.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
New data center coming to southeast Kansas
PITTSBURG, Kan. — A new data center coming to southeast Kansas will generate sales tax and franchise fees in exchange for the big energy it will take to operate. 'Last several months have been spent prepping the site because, again, it takes a lot of electricity,' said Blake Benson, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce President. Wildcat Data Infrastructure, a Texas company, is building the first data storage facility in the Industrial park near the Pittsburg Airport 'Data centers, are facilities that housed much data storage. They house computer applications. And they're becoming more and more necessary,' said Benson. Crawford County seeks community input for new growth plan New data center coming to southeast Kansas PSU's Center for Reading hosting educational summer camp for kids KDOT hosting Hwy 69 improvement meetings this week for Crawford County resident input Southeast Kansas sheriff quips, 'We saved the 4th of July' The idea was proposed to the City Commission back in late January. Now, the company and the city are working with Evergy to expand the electrical infrastructure at the site on 10 acres of land. 'Data centers are becoming more and more attractive economic development projects for communities like Pittsburg because we really as far as city utilities are infrastructure. They didn't need much. They needed a lot of electricity,' said Benson. While a significant amount of energy is being used, it will also generate sales tax and franchise fees for the city. 'It'll generate about $10,000 a month in sales tax on that electricity and also a franchise fee that the city collects on electricity. That'll be about another 10,000. So all in all, it will generate about $20,000 a month,' said Benson. Phase I of the project will include several modular buildings, that are not yet on site. 10 megawatts of energy is enough to power 2,000 homes a day. As for phase 2 of the project… 'Then the second phase calls for that to go to a 50 megawatt project. And when that happens, most likely they'll combine it into one facility,' said Benson. Benson says phase I of the project should be complete by the end of Summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
