Pennsylvania agriculture secretary announces $10 million to help farms, families in need
WGAL News 8 coronavirus coverage
WGAL News 8 coronavirus coverage
WGAL News 8 coronavirus coverage
Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said Thursday that $10 million will help farms and families in need.
Redding visited Sauder's Eggs in Lancaster County to announce that the money from the federal coronavirus relief bill will go to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System, or PASS.
"There are fields of produce. There is milk that's been dumped, there are eggs discarded. This is the solution to that," Redding said.
PASS purchases surplus products from farmers and distributes the nutritious food to food banks across the state.
In typical years, about 2 million people are served. With the coronavirus pandemic leaving many people unemployed, food banks served 5.5 million people in three months, officials said.
"Many of these people had never been to a food bank or food pantry and had never imagined they'd need food help," said Jane Clements-Smith, of Feeding Pennsylvania.
The pandemic took away markets from farmers, as restaurants and schools closed and residents started eating in.
Those taking part in the program called it a win-win for producers and consumers.
"Just in the last 12 months, we've donated over 40,000 dozens [of eggs] here in Pennsylvania to people who are suffering from food insecurity," said Mark Sauder, of Sauder's Eggs.
More information about food security and resources for Pennsylvanians in need is available at the Department of Agriculture website.