Farmers have been dumping milk and produce as demand from restaurants fall, and as Capradio reports, California will begin connecting those farm products to food banks in need.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said some farmers and ranchers are experiencing a 50% reduction in demand, while food banks are seeing nearly 75% more demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program plans to move at least 20 million pounds of “high quality, locally produced produce, poultry, and dairy.” The food will be sent to 41 food banks in every county across California.
The program received an initial $3.6 million in funding from the USDA and private donations.