Bureau of Food Distribution

Division of Marketing and Development
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

2007-2008 Overview of Activities

The Department administered or provided support through commodities and/or cash for a number of U.S. Department of Agriculture programs in Florida, including the National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program that provides commodities for distribution to the needy.

During fiscal year 2007-2008, approximately 200 agencies serving over 2,000 public and private schools, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other emergency feeding organizations throughout Florida, received almost 83.5 million pounds of food valued in excess of $68 million. As a result, almost 3 million people were reached on a daily basis, making Florida’s food distribution program the fourth-largest in the nation.

The Department is involved in the Food Recovery Program and other programs that endeavor to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in the state. This fiscal year, farmers donated over 9.4 million pounds of fresh produce for distribution to those in need. The Department produces the Food Recovery Resource Guide, which lists organizations involved in food recovery. The guide is available on the Department’s website to the general public and to schools, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and other entities involved in the preparation of meals and/or the sale of food items.

WIC/Farmers’ Market Nutritional Program

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Department of Health jointly administer the WIC/Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. This U.S. Department of Agriculture program has two statutory objectives: to provide fresh produce to eligible women and children who are nutritionally at risk; and to help local farmers by expanding the awareness of, use of and sales at local farmers’ markets. In 2007-2008, booklets totaling in excess of $635,000 in $4 coupons were provided to over 31,800 eligible WIC clients in Alachua, Bay, Escambia, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Okaloosa, St. Johns, Santa Rosa, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, Walton and Washington counties. The Department entered into agreements with 202 farmers authorizing them to participate in the program. Participants can redeem the coupons for the purchase of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables from authorized farmers at community farmers’ markets. WIC/FMNP is a very successful program that provides eligible WIC clients nutrition education in addition to fresh produce and participating farmers with new customers. As a result, both groups continue to enthusiastically support the program.

Emergency Response

As the lead agency for Emergency Support Function (ESF) 11, the Department is responsible for acquiring food, water and ice for disaster victims. In the event of a disaster, the Bureau of Food Distribution also provides USDA commodities to disaster relief organizations for the mass feeding of disaster victims at designated feeding sites, from roving canteens, etc. Water and ice are given out at various points of distribution throughout the affected area.

In 2007-2008, Florida escaped the hurricane season unscathed.