USDA halts $500 million in food deliveries nationwide

Food banks in Fresno County, California, are facing a shortage of groceries. This comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) canceled $500 million in food deliveries. These deliveries were expected to help food banks meet growing needs in their communities. The Central California Food Bank announced it lost 13 truckloads of food valued at $850,000. This is a setback as many families in the area struggle with high food prices. Natalie Caples, co-CEO of the food bank, said they cannot replace this lost food. It means that families will receive less food and fewer healthy options when they visit the pantries. The USDA is reviewing funding and has not yet decided on the future of these food purchases. This issue is affecting food banks across the country, especially in rural areas where they depend heavily on government supplies. The cancellation follows a decision to end two pandemic-era programs that provided substantial funds for food purchases. Other food banks, like the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., are also impacted. They lost $1.3 million in food deliveries, including 27 trucks of nutritious items. The CEO, Radha Muthiah, is working hard to find alternative sources of food but acknowledges the difficulty of the situation. In Southwest Virginia, Feeding Southwest Virginia reported losing 10 truckloads valued at $513,000. CEO Pamela Irvine said they now face tough decisions about how much food to provide. The overall situation highlights the growing challenge food banks face in meeting the needs of their communities amid funding cuts.