The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is set to launch a summer campaign at a York County farm to help address a fresh produce shortage driven by a spring freeze and major funding cuts. The “Fresh Food for Summer: Closing the Produce Gap” campaign will be announced at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market in Hellam Township at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Agricultural and economic crisisThe Food Bank said it is facing both an agricultural and economic strain. A severe spring freeze sharply reduced crop yields across the region. In a Pennsylvania Farm Bureau survey, 221 of 250 respondents said they were negatively affected, and nearly one-third reported total crop loss. Officials said fruit crops were hit especially hard, causing shortages of apples, peaches, grapes, pears, plums, cherries and apricots. The Food Bank also said cuts to federal Local Food Purchase Assistance funding have removed about $170,000 per month from its fresh food purchasing budget. Those funds had previously been used to buy produce directly from local farms. At the same time, rising food and transportation costs have made commercial produce more expensive. ‘Fresh Food for Summer’ campaign According to the Food Bank, the campaign is designed to protect access to nutritious food for local families while preserving partnerships with regional growers. The organization said the effort includes a community matching challenge, allowing donors to double their impact online. The Food Bank said every $1 donated will provide about three pounds of fresh produce to neighbors across central Pennsylvania. “Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to the health and well-being of our neighbors,” the organization said. “As the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank faces multiple produce sourcing challenges this summer, your gift is vital to help fill the gap with two months’ worth of fresh food for the most vulnerable members of our community.” CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Shila Ulrich, co-owner and manager of Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market, Julie Keene, and chief public affairs officer for Feeding Pennsylvania, Lauren Duff, are expected to speak during Wednesday’s event. Did you capture a moment that you would like to share with News 8? Send us your photos or videos at https://www.wgal.com/upload.
HALLAM, Pa. —
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is set to launch a summer campaign at a York County farm to help address a fresh produce shortage driven by a spring freeze and major funding cuts.
The “Fresh Food for Summer: Closing the Produce Gap” campaign will be announced at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market in Hellam Township at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Agricultural and economic crisis
The Food Bank said it is facing both an agricultural and economic strain.
A severe spring freeze sharply reduced crop yields across the region. In a Pennsylvania Farm Bureau survey, 221 of 250 respondents said they were negatively affected, and nearly one-third reported total crop loss. Officials said fruit crops were hit especially hard, causing shortages of apples, peaches, grapes, pears, plums, cherries and apricots.
The Food Bank also said cuts to federal Local Food Purchase Assistance funding have removed about $170,000 per month from its fresh food purchasing budget. Those funds had previously been used to buy produce directly from local farms. At the same time, rising food and transportation costs have made commercial produce more expensive.
‘Fresh Food for Summer’ campaign
According to the Food Bank, the campaign is designed to protect access to nutritious food for local families while preserving partnerships with regional growers.
The organization said the effort includes a community matching challenge, allowing donors to double their impact online. The Food Bank said every $1 donated will provide about three pounds of fresh produce to neighbors across central Pennsylvania.
“Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to the health and well-being of our neighbors,” the organization said. “As the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank faces multiple produce sourcing challenges this summer, your gift is vital to help fill the gap with two months’ worth of fresh food for the most vulnerable members of our community.”
CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Shila Ulrich, co-owner and manager of Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market, Julie Keene, and chief public affairs officer for Feeding Pennsylvania, Lauren Duff, are expected to speak during Wednesday’s event.
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Crop loss at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard after freeze
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