Data suggests that rural communities in Michigan are at greater risk for childhood food insecurity than our urban counterparts. We believe agriculture is positioned to have the greatest impact.
We support:
Michigan Farm Bureau providing information that is farmer facing on how farms can connect with existing programs for those who are in need as well as the benefits of donation, which may include tax credits or other financial incentives.
Farm Bureau participation in the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger board.
Food assistance programs such as, but not limited to, Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and encourage these market opportunities.
Food assistance programs in the farm bill and partnering with like-minded Michigan organizations that receive nutrition title funding.
Changes to the farm bill and USDA programs that would increase farm gate value through federal food assistance or government purchase programs.
More focus being placed on the food delivery system to connect farmers with rural families that are food insecure. Consideration should also be given to the time of day and locations for distribution.
More research on preferred food packaging, size, and quantity to best serve families utilizing food assistance programs.
Increasing access to venison donation programs that allows for free processing of venison that is donated to food banks including an increase in processing locations. Michigan Department of Natural Resources should promote the program and available processing locations.
Increasing access to the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger program that includes increasing available processing locations and removing barriers to distributing venison.
The donation of protein sources (venison, beef, etc.) that have not been processed through a USDA processing facility but that have been processed responsibly through a state inspected processor.
County Farm Bureaus coordinating with charitable food networks regarding needs that they have locally, such as cold storage.
Farm Bureau promoting opportunities to members that sell at farm markets on how they can utilize produce prescriptions and connected Medicaid programs to solve symptoms of food insecurity.