On March 25th, Secretary Redding submitted a formal appeal over the unlawful cancellation of $13 million awarded to Pennsylvania through the USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program.
The Shapiro Administration has heard directly from farmers and food banks in Pittsburgh, Lehigh Valley, and Harrisburg on critical funding in Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget to strengthen regional food systems, support farmers and families.
Governor Shapiro’s 2025–26 budget proposes $8 million increases to key programs fighting food insecurity — plus measures to raise the minimum wage, lower housing costs, and tackle root causes of hunger — while farmers and food banks struggle to fill budget gaps brought on by cancelled federal funds.
Harrisburg, PA – Following a March 25 roundtable in Harrisburg alongside Governor Josh Shapiro, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding hosted roundtables at regional food banks in Nazareth and in Pittsburgh, where he was joined by Lt. Governor Austin Davis to discuss some of the challenges food banks, farmers, and community leaders are facing to get fresh, healthy food out to people facing food insecurity. Secretary Redding also highlighted how critical investments in the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) and the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) help farmers and foodbanks work together to get food onto the tables of Pennsylvania families who may not know the source of their next meal.
Demand for food assistance remains high, and the recent, abrupt cancellation of $13 million through the USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program has left a significant gap in budgets of the food banks and farmers who supplied food through the program. In response, Secretary Redding to formally appeal the loss of $13 million in federal LFPA support — funding that would have supported 189 Pennsylvania farms over the next three years. Pennsylvania is one of the only states in the nation that uses LFPA funds to exclusively support in-state farmers, ensuring federal dollars stay in-state and go directly to Pennsylvania farmers.
In his 2025-26 budget proposal, Governor Josh Shapiro calls for a $4 million increase to PASS, which connects low-income Pennsylvanians with healthy, local food through 13 regional food banks across the state. The Governor’s budget proposal also calls for an additional $4 million for SFPP to increase the resources available to emergency food providers in all 67 counties. These proposed increases would bring the combined total for these programs to $34.6 million.
See what people are saying about the federal funding programs that support our farmers and charitable food programs and why we must protect them:
Lisa Scales, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank President and CEO: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is seeing record numbers of people seeking food assistance, including many working families who are reaching out for the first time. We could not do this work without our partnerships with farmers, food pantries, community volunteers, and government agencies at all levels. The proposed increase of $8 million in the state budget will go a long way towards helping us provide much needed food into the community. Thank you to Governor Shapiro, Lt. Governor Davis, and Secretary Redding for prioritizing funding that supports both farmers and families."
Joe Arthur, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank: “Here at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, we've been deeply concerned about the funding cut to the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program. For our food bank alone, that cut means losing $1.8 million over 15 months — that’s $120,000 a month and 500,000 meals that won’t reach the children and adults who rely on us. It also means fewer resources for our local farmers, who supply the fresh, nutritious food that makes this program so impactful. This isn’t just about meals—it’s about families, communities, and our local economy. So, Governor, thank you for standing up and making this a priority."
Sarah Wassel, Associate Executive Director at Second Harvest Food Bank: “Through our Farm to Food Bank initiative, made possible by the LFPA and PASS programs, we’re not just feeding families—we’re investing in our local farmers, ensuring the availability of healthy foods, reducing food waste, and strengthening the fabric of our regional economy. This work allows us to support our entire community and take steps towards addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity. Thanks to LFPA and PASS, we’ve transformed our community’s agricultural abundance into a lifeline for neighbors facing hunger while building the strength of our regional supply chain.”
Chris Hoffman, President of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau: "It is an honor to represent over 27,000 farmers across Pennsylvania — men and women whose job is to ensure our communities have access to nutritious, balanced meals. As we were discussing earlier, the reality that one in five children goes to bed hungry is something we simply cannot accept. We must find solutions to change that, and I appreciate Governor Shapiro, his Administration, and Secretary Redding for making agriculture a pillar of economic development and growth in Pennsylvania. We needed this focus, and the Governor’s budgets have shown he is fully committed to strengthening our agriculture industry. I firmly believe we have the best farmers in the country, and I stand by that. Every day, they work tirelessly to prevent food insecurity and keep Pennsylvania’s families fed. Thanks to leadership that values and invests in agriculture, we have the opportunity to grow and innovate in this Commonwealth."
Lela Reichart, Vice President of new business development at Sterman Masser Inc. in Sacramento, Pennsylvania: "As an eighth-generation potato grower, it's been our privilege to work with 5 of our local food banks in distributing nutritiously dense potatoes to help feed those who otherwise wouldn't be able to access them at their local grocery stores. It’s part of our farm's mission to ensure that no one goes hungry, and to continue to provide nutritious food, feeding one person at a time. This federal funding is critical for us to continue to ensure our work with local food banks can be included in our market plans, and that a year-round supply of potatoes to the food banks that make it to people who are food insecure."
Amy Brickner, a dairy farmer who runs Destiny Dairy Bar in Carlisle, Pennsylvania: "I am a dairy farmer, and three years ago, I started bottling and selling milk to bring fresh, nutritious food directly to my community. Agriculture is Pennsylvania’s top industry, with dairy leading the way, yet milk remains the most requested item at food banks. Nearly two years ago, thanks to a local food grant, the Central PA Food Bank connected me with Safe Harbour, a nonprofit in Carlisle. Since then, their team has picked up close-dated milk from my farm each week, providing it to their residents and the Salvation Army-Carlisle. That grant helped cover bottling costs, reduced food waste, and, most importantly, put nutritious whole milk into the hands of those who need it most. In January, I was told funding would be frozen, but I kept donating because I knew the impact. This winter was tough — I absorbed costs I can’t afford — but I’m proud of the work I do alongside my grandmother, mother, and sons. I’m grateful for the Shapiro Administration who is taking this action today.”
Travis Hahn, owner of Twin Maple Farm in Bath, Pennsylvania: “Working with the food banks through the LFPA is very rewarding. Knowing that our product is not being wasted and that it can be used by someone is fantastic. It is even more rewarding knowing that it is all staying in the local community and helping those who are less fortunate to get a good nutritious meal. Our farm is currently marketing a percentage of our potato crop to the food banks through the LFPA program, we also sell excess peppers, sweet corn, cabbage, and beans through this program. The loss of this program will mean the loss of one avenue of market for our product that is grown in eastern Pennsylvania. One huge advantage to working through LFPA is the food bank’s ability to handle surplus product during the growing season which virtually eliminates waste on the farm and in the field.”
Richard Rowe of Bechdolt Orchards: “All in all, LFPA is a win-win for small family farms like mine and the Pennsylvania families who receive our produce. LFPA funding has allowed us to partner with Second Harvest Food Bank to forge community-based solutions to food insecurity that help address root causes of hunger and ultimately reduce dependence on the charitable food system. By stimulating the local economy and providing higher quality, nutritious foods to food insecure neighbors, we can reduce food insecurity, improve health outcomes, and support our local farmers and agriculture community.”
Greg Edelman, owner of Terra Fauna Farm in Northampton, Pennsylvania: “The LFPA program was the perfect fit for our farm. The access to new market opportunities it granted us greatly raised the demand for the vegetables we grew and in turn the income they generated. For the first time since we started our farm 15 years ago, I was able to work on the farm full-time without having to work another job. Surely something a potential future generation of farmers will notice.”
See what Pennsylvanians are reading regarding the federal funding cuts and what the Shapiro Administration is doing to protect our charitable food system and agricultural economy:
WJAC: USDA funding cuts threaten Pennsylvania farmers and food banks, says agriculture secretary
WESA: Pittsburgh and Pa. food banks see growing demand, as Trump slashes federal funding
The Daily Item: Food banks, farmers discuss impact of federal cuts
WPXI: Pittsburgh food bank seeing increase in need as Gov. Shapiro appeals federal funding cut
WTAE: Federal funding cuts spark concerns over food insecurity in Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley News: DOGE cancels USDA program that paired Lehigh Valley farmers with food banks
Erie-Times News: Federal budgets cuts could find Second Harvest looking for new sources of food
WFMZ: Food banks applaud Shapiro challenge to federal food fund cutoff
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economy, with over 53,000 farms generating $132.5 billion annually and supporting 600,000 jobs. Governor Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy places agriculture at the forefront, recognizing it as essential to the Commonwealth’s growth.
Read more about commonsense investments to keep Pennsylvania agriculture competitive and thriving in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal at shapirobudget.pa.gov.
# # #