On Thursday, the Shapiro Administration dedicated $500,000 to fund an emergency purchase, process, and transport of 350 tons of grapes from 11 Erie, Pa.,-area growers whose buyer canceled contracts for this season\u2019s crops unexpectedly in March. The grapes will be made into juice concentrate and distributed to Feeding Pennsylvania-member foodbanks through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS).<\/p>\n
\u201cPASS is a highly effective tool to provide a market for Pennsylvania farmers for their surplus crops while helping to feed our neighbors in need,\u201d Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding said. \u201cIn March, the Shapiro Administration committed to doing everything we can to help farmers facing a sudden loss of a buyer. Under Governor Josh Shapiro\u2019s leadership, Pennsylvania has kept our promises, stepping up for farmers when crisis hits, using programs and partnerships creatively and effectively to meet the needs of Pennsylvania businesses while feeding families who need our help.\u201d<\/p>\n
PASS dollars will fund the purchase of concord grapes from 11 Pennsylvania growers for processing by New York-based CK Natural in Westfield into 100 percent juice concentrate for distribution at Feeding Pennsylvania foodbanks across Pennsylvania. Concentrate, which is less expensive to transport, will yield three 64-ounce bottles of juice from each quart. The concentrate will be pasteurized, with no additives, for a natural source of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are fortunate to have an administration that consistently invests in agriculture and the charitable food system through PASS,\u201d said Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft. \u201cThis project exemplifies PASS\u2019s purpose \u2014 supporting Pennsylvania farmers during unpredictable market downturns and weather challenges, while ensuring that healthy, local products reach families who need them most.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has worked through PASS to increase food security and reduce food waste, providing $42 million to Feeding Pennsylvania\u2019s network of food banks to buy 49.8 million pounds of nutritious surplus food from Pennsylvania farmers. PASS dollars cover harvesting, processing, transportation, and packaging costs for top quality items that otherwise may go to waste.<\/p>\n
In the last decade, the PASS partnership has united Pennsylvania\u2019s farmers, food banks, and state government in serving more than 41.1 million meals to 10.6 million households in need across Pennsylvania, including more than 11.2 million pounds of food worth more than $9 million so far this year.<\/p>\n
In addition to today\u2019s investment of PASS dollars to support growers whose buyer canceled without notice, Shapiro and his Administration have come to farmers\u2019 aid when their income was threatened:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Filing a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for unlawfully terminating the $13 million Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, which supports 189 Pennsylvania farms and 14 food banks.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Calling on the USDA and Congress for expedited federal support when Pennsylvania growers faced devastating losses from a late-April 2026 freeze.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Requesting an additional $20 million above his original 2026-\u201927 budget proposal to support farmers hurt by the late April freeze.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania agriculture supports over 48,800 farms, nearly 600,000 jobs, and contributes $132.5 billion annually to the Commonwealth\u2019s economy. Since taking office in 2023, Governor Shapiro has demonstrated that he understands that Pennsylvania\u2019s economic success depends on our rural communities and farms.<\/p>\n
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