may-jun-2020

We are seeing many other shifts in policy due to the pandemic, and we are evaluating those measures given that legislators are convening in the State Capitol once again following a two-month recess. In addition to agriculture’s core work of food production and processing to maintain a stable food supply, many entities like Blue Diamond are addressing food insecurity in California through donor drives and food bank donations. The pandemic is revealing the interwoven and sometimes fragile nature of the food system, and farmers of some commodities face severe hardships due to the breakdown of the food service and restaurant industries. Meanwhile, people are going hungry. This results in an oversupply of certain commodities. In some cases, food intended for food service is in storage facilities in enormous bulk sizes, which are not useful for individual families. The challenge presented to us, is to find an efficient avenue to repackage these items in a way that is consumable for families in need. Ag Council is proud to have created a partnership with Farm Credit, Dairy Farmers of America and Hilmar Cheese to convert cheese into two-pound packages and bags of shredded cheese as an initial step to facilitate certain food bank donations. I thank Blue Diamond for stepping into this space to fulfill an important need by leading a donation drive with Sun-maid Growers of California and Union Pacific Railroad to match financial donations up to $50,000 to be divided between three California food banks in early May. This is just the start. Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced a public-private partnership to provide additional funds to California’s Farm to Families program to advance more partnerships between our agricultural community and California’s food banks. I was recently asked to join a working group on hunger through the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and I am participating in meetings. Ag Council is pleased to work with the governor’s administration and our members to help overcome impediments hindering the food system in order to fight food insecurity for so many people. This is why we support additional dollars dedicated toward the Farm to Families program. Despite the fact that so much in our world has changed over the past few months, one constant is that we all must eat and our members are doing what they do best — meeting a simple mission to produce food to feed people. With constantly shifting winds, this mission keeps the agricultural community grounded and focused during this tumultuous time. Amid the chaos, agriculture is working to address modern challenges by protecting our essential workforce, seeking solutions to fight hunger, and ensuring safe and nutritious California grown food is available for our families. Thank you for your membership and partnership as we meet this moment in our history. Agriculture is working to address modern challenges by protecting our essential workforce, seeking solutions to fight hunger, and ensuring safe and nutritious California grown food is available for our families. Emily Rooney, President, Agricultural Council of California