The Federation of Virginia Food Banks, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is distributing thousands of pounds of fresh, locally grown apples to families across the Commonwealth this holiday season. With funding from the Federal Farms to Food Banks initiative, approximately 9,500 bushels of Virginia apples will be delivered to food-insecure households in November and December.

The apples will be distributed through a network of more than 1,100 neighborhood food pantries, helping to prevent food waste and support local farmers. The initiative is part of a broader effort to provide surplus agricultural products to the state’s emergency food system.

Farms to Food Banks was established in the 2018 Farm Bill and Virginia has received an annual grant to procure surplus agricultural products for the emergency food system. This year, the full $114,000 grant was put toward rescuing apples at two local orchards. Like many states throughout the country, Virginia’s favorable growing season and other market conditions resulted in an apple surplus.

Eddie Oliver, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks highlighted the contradiction between Virginia’s thriving agricultural industry and the food insecurity faced by many of its residents.

“Agriculture is the number one private industry in Virginia, yet more than 950,000 Virginians, or 1 in 9, will experience food insecurity this year,” he said. “We know that Virginia farmers share our goal of ensuring everyone has the nutrition they need to thrive.”

In addition to the apple distribution, the Federation has recently procured over 17,500 pounds of locally raised beef, further supporting the state’s agricultural community.

“This type of partnership is extremely beneficial for Virginia, as it helps to address food insecurity and support local agriculture,” said VDACS Commissioner Joseph Guthrie. “Producers are compensated for their harvest cost, nutritious food is not wasted, and additional food resources are available to food banks throughout the Commonwealth.”