State and local food distributors in Pennsylvania are receiving a big financial boost to get food boxes to families in need.
Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday state distributors will get $50 million of the $1.2 billion in funding for the program.
The money will pay for the purchase of surplus milk and other dairy products, as well as chicken, pork and fresh produce from farmers who’ve lost markets for their products because of covid-19.
The distributors will work with food banks and other non-profit organizations to get food boxes to families facing food insecurity — a problem that has worsened during the pandemic.
In Allegheny County, contracts were awarded to Schneider Dairy in Pittsburgh ($4.2 million), Paragon Wholesale Foods in Warrendale ($3.8 million), Monteverde’s, Pittsburgh ($1.4 million), Turner Dairy Farms, Pittsburgh ($315,450) and Farm to Table Buy Local, Pittsburgh (just under $282,000).
“This vital funding will put fresh, nutritious food on Pennsylvanians’ tables and money in the pockets of our farmers,” Wolf said. “The Wolf Administration has advocated for this and other targeted support for our farms, and we’re pleased that this funding will complement other dedicated state and federal funding to combat food waste and food insecurity in Pennsylvania.”
