Latest news with #foodaccess
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay SNAP recipients worry potential cuts could limit access to healthy food
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — President Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' is on its way to the Senate for review. Tampa Bay Democratic Representative Kathy Castor spoke against parts of the bill Tuesday. Specifically on the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. The bill requires applicants to be working, training for a new job, or in school, among other things. There are some exceptions. Some Democrats call the changes 'bureaucratic barriers' and said they don't want to see access to healthy foods limited. Florida lawmakers pass hurricane bill amid restriction fears At the Macdill Fresh Farmers Market, manager Dem Cannon said fresh, is always best. 'It tastes real, fresh, and real,' Cannon said. Her products and prices keep regular customers coming back. 'Much better, bigger, they taste a lot better and they're much cheaper,' said Jake Hampton, a customer. But Cannon said she knows these foods aren't always available to everyone. 'Some people don't want to. Some people never see fresh stuff. They don't recognize it. I had a lady tell me she not even know that's what a jalapeno looked like,' Cannon said. Consider those who, even at low prices, can't afford fresh produce without some type of government assistance. 'Well, I won't be able to get healthy foods like I am right now. I do have health issues. And the SNAP program helps provide all of that for me. I don't want to be on it but it's a necessity for me,' said a SNAP recipient who spoke alongside Representative Kathy Castor Tuesday. Castor said at a time when cost of living and groceries are high, she accuses the Republican bill of giving tax cuts to the wealthy that are paid for by taking millions from SNAP. 'We need in this country to make sure that all of our neighbors are healthy and well,' Castor said. Republicans said they are not cutting SNAP but are targeting waste, fraud, and abuse. They said the bill would require states to contribute more toward the program and have limits on waiver to work requirements. In an interview with The Hill, Florida Senator Rick Scott said he supports the deal but put the needs of the federal deficit back in sight. 'I want to get a deal done; I support the president's agenda. I support the border, I support the military, I support extending the Trump tax cuts — but we have to live in reality. But we got to live in reality here: We got a fiscal crisis,' Scott said. At the market, Cannon didn't get into the policies. Cannon just said everyone should have access to fresh food. 'It is important,' Cannon said. Castor said SNAP helps farmers and those supplying markets as well. Republicans argue states will better administer food stamps if they have to pay more of the cost. As the bill goes to the senate, lawmakers said they will be making changes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Denver Urban Gardens slows plans for expansion following federal cuts
Denver Urban Gardens, a nonprofit that has built hundreds of gardens across seven counties in the Denver metro area, is having to revisit its plans for expansion after its federal grants were pulled back. CBS DUG received a combined $1.2 million in federal funding that they planned on using to increase food access for six West Denver neighborhoods, but now those plans have been uprooted. "This is my plot right here, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, anything for a salad," said Joe Milia, showing off his garden in downtown Denver. DUG is celebrating 40 years as a nonprofit, and although its plans for expansion have slowed with federal funding drying up, its impact in the city is still being felt. "If you saw this area, this whole garden, a few years ago, there was nothing here," said Milia. "It was kind of torn apart and run down. DUG, taking this over has not only allowed people to take these 30 plus plots and grow food, but it also has beautified a section of downtown." CBS Milia has gardened here for two years, and although he may not be dependent on the garden to put food on the table, it brings him a sense of accomplishment and community. "When you take something from a seed or a small plant to growing it, nurturing it, cleaning the whole park around it," said Milia. "Then eventually bringing it home and having a salad, it's getting your hands dirty and accomplishing something." "These gardens are incredible ways to bring people from all ages, all walks of life, all demographics together to grow food," said the organization's executive director, Linda Appel Lipsius. "And it's so simple and beautiful, and something that you know, Denver can use more of." Appel Lipsius has been working for years to make a deeper impact in the community, while bringing fresh produce to areas where it's hard to get. "The community came together and said, we need food," said Appel Lipsius. "Access to this affordable, fresh, healthy food is either going to go away entirely or be dramatically reduced." CBS The West Area Plan included community gardens and food forests, which are more like public orchards where anyone can stop in and take the food. But, that dream may now take years to bear fruit because of a drastic cut to the program's funding. "So far we have lost two thirds of the $1.2 million that we received from the federal government," said Appel Lipsius. "Now we're still doing it, but it's just going to be a lot slower, and it's really pretty heartbreaking because it was something that was going to be truly transformational for the community."
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa Harvest expands national fleet with new trucks
Food rescue and hunger relief organisation, SA Harvest has expanded its national fleet with the addition of several new trucks, including a refrigerated unit. This development marks a milestone in SA Harvest's mission to rewire South Africa's food system by transforming logistics inefficiencies into opportunities for equity and environmental impact. Every year, more than 10 million tonnes of edible food goes to waste in South Africa, while nearly 20 million people face hunger. The challenge lies not in food production but in getting surplus food to where it's needed. 'Hunger is a logistical crisis, not a scarcity crisis,' says Ozzy Nel, COO of SA Harvest. 'We don't aim to build the biggest fleet, but rather the most effective, collaborative movement of food in the country.' The new trucks will allow SA Harvest to access more remote and underserved areas, increase the volume of food transported, and improve resilience across its operations. The addition of a temperature-controlled unit also enhances cold-chain capability, ensuring the safe transport of perishable, nutrient-rich food over long distances. Each vehicle is an operational extension of SA Harvest's commitment to dignified and consistent food access. The power of SA Harvest's logistics model lies not in scale, but in smart, purpose-driven partnerships. While it operates a lean, targeted fleet, much of its distribution is made possible through collaborations with logistics providers who contribute underutilised resources, including empty return legs and short-term vehicle support. Case in point An example of this is a recent large-scale collaboration with a local farmer, one of South Africa's major producers of fresh vegetables, illustrates the power of SA Harvest's model. When a surplus of over 200,000kgs of butternut became available - produce that risked going to waste due to seasonal oversupply - SA Harvest mobilised swiftly. Through coordination with multiple logistics partners, the butternut was collected and delivered to over 40 community-based organisations in two provinces, where it was distributed to families facing food insecurity. In return, logistics partners receive Section 18A tax certificates for in-kind transport donations, access to environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting data such as carbon emissions prevented, and public recognition for their role in a replicable, systems-based approach to hunger relief. Technology plays a central role in the organisation's operations. SA Harvest integrates real-time analytics and a central Power BI dashboard to track key metrics, including food volumes rescued, emissions avoided, delivery efficiency, and cost savings to community partners. This infrastructure of vehicles, warehouses and digital systems supports a humanitarian supply chain built for transparency, impact and long-term sustainability. SA Harvest is inviting more logistics providers to join its growing network. Whether through occasional unused routes, shared warehouse space or temporary access to transport, the logistics industry can make a measurable difference. 'In the right hands, logistics becomes more than transport,' says Nel. 'It becomes a bridge between waste and want - a way to create meaningful, lasting change.'
