Anti-hunger groups: Ohio food programs reduce waste, help farmers

By Nadia Ramlagan

The Ohio Food Program and Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program help ensure surplus or blemished produce from local farms are distributed to local food pantries.

Anti-hunger groups said the state-level initiatives are especially critical as more families struggle with higher grocery bills. They are also considering ongoing changes to SNAP benefits and regulations, including the introduction of federal work requirements in February.

Sarah Kuhns, external affairs manager for the Ohio Association of Food Banks, said Ohio is making an effort to eliminate agricultural waste and move fresh produce through pantries quickly.

"Not all states actually have something like this and to be able to have it for so long is really incredible and a testament to not only our food banks, (but) our partnerships with farms and producers," Kuhns observed.

Together, the programs receive $25 million annually to purchase produce from farmers.

Kuhns pointed out Ohio’s General Assembly has continued to prioritize keeping Ohio-grown food and products in local communities.

"I think having a state-funded food program allows us to make sure that we are meeting the needs, especially right now, when things may be a little bit less certain when it comes to people's pocketbooks," Kuhns emphasized.

Nationwide, millions of tons of surplus produce goes to waste on farms each year and one study found more than 30% of edible crops may remain unharvested in fields.