02-04-2025
USDA cancels shipments to Tri-Cities food banks
SALEM, Va. (WJHL) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has canceled shipments of food headed to local food banks.
Pamela Irvine, the President and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia, said the food bank was informed that a shipment meant to be delivered between April and July was not coming.
'It was $513,000 worth of food that would have come to Feeding Southwest Virginia,' Irvine said. 'We were told that it was part of the process of looking at, you know, making some cuts in federal programs.'
$722K in food shipments to East Tennessee food bank canceled by U.S. Department of Agriculture
The cancelations are a result of the USDA's Commodities Credit Corporation being paused for a federal review.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee also confirmed that a shipment of 10 truckloads of food was canceled.
Irvine said the partnership Feeding Southwest Virginia has with the USDA is the most consistent way the food bank gets nutritious food.
'It's 31% of our food supply,' Irvine said. 'So, this food is extremely important, and the partnership is important to us. We're talking about eggs and milk and fresh fruits and vegetables that are extremely important.'
Despite the cancelations, Irvine said she does not want to cause panic.
'I want our neighbors not to panic, but we are concerned as we move forward to ensure that we will have a strong Farm Bill.'
The Farm Bill provides funding to the programs within the USDA. It is reauthorized by Congress every five years.
'They're in that continuing resolution through September. That is the priority. And then hopefully we'll get to the Farm Bill reauthorization.'
Feeding Southwest Virginia and Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee accept donations.
In a statement sent to News Channel 11, the USDA said:
'The Biden Administration inflated statutory programs with Commodity Credit Corporation dollars without any plans for long-term solutions, and even in 2024, used the pandemic as a reason to make funding announcements.
While the pandemic is over, USDA has not and will not lose focus on its core mission of strengthening food security, supporting agricultural markets, and ensuring access to nutritious foods. For example, last month, USDA released over half a billion in previously obligated funds for LFPA, LFPA for Tribes, and LFS to fulfill existing commitments and support ongoing local food purchases. Additionally, USDA recently announced $261 million in available fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts, made possible through Section 32 purchases. These foods go directly to food banks and other charitable organizations. States are eligible to receive products including tomatoes, grapes, pistachios, asparagus, apricots, strawberries, and peaches, among many others.
And while the Biden-era TEFAP slush fund was terminated, the program continues to operate uninterrupted, as originally intended by Congress, with more than $166 million spent in recent months to connect families with food.
The Department will continue to use its procurement authority to support producers and consumers where appropriate, and with 16 nutrition programs under its purview, ensure families continue to have access to affordable and abundant food.'
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