The latest updates on food security are in - USDA Economic Research Service released its annual Household Food Security in the United States and, with it, revealed worrying trends about food insecurity and the effects of inflation. Some key stats:
→ 13.5% of American households, up from 12.8% in 2022, were food insecure at some point in 2023 (note the increase in the right half of the graph below). This represents nearly 50 million people that, at some point, did not know where their next meal was coming from.
→ Children were particularly affected. 17.9% of households with children were food insecure in 2023.
→ Black and Hispanic households were nearly twice as likely to experience food insecurity, with rates of 23.3% and 21.9%, respectively. The recent Census Bureau report echoes these inequities, as Latinx and Black people experienced poverty at rates of 20.5% and 18.5%, respectively, compared to the national average of 12.9%
At Farmlink, we believe that the abundance of food grown in this nation should go to people’s tables, not to landfills. As we scale our farm-to-community model, it is critical we understand that hunger is not experienced equitably. Farmlink is the only food rescue organization capable of working with all hunger-fighting organizations in all networks, and it is our responsibility to use this ability to reduce overall food insecurity and achieve equitable access to fresh, nutritious food for all communities. We invite you to join us this Hunger Action Month and year-round to redirect surplus produce to our hunger-fighting partners in food-insecure communities across the country.
Helping the agriculture supply chain thrive with technology innovation
4moJarell Habets - you and Ben Collier should try and connect in Rotterdam if timing allows. You both are running fast growing companies in the perishables world and could trade notes!