Bureau of Food Distribution

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

2009-2010 Overview of Activities

The Department administered or provided support through USDA foods 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 USDA foods for distribution to the needy.

During fiscal year 2009-2010, 209 agencies serving about 5,000 public and private schools, residential childcare institutions, food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, and other emergency feeding organizations throughout Florida, received over 111 million pounds of USDA food valued in excess of $95 million. As a result, approximately 2 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 7.7 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 web site 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.

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. During this fiscal year, booklets totaling over $630,000 in $4 coupons were provided to 31,669 eligible WIC clients in Alachua, Bay, Escambia, Gadsden, Holmes, Jackson, Lafayette, Leon, Okaloosa, St. Johns, Santa Rosa, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, Walton, and Washington counties. The Department entered into agreements with 203 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 with nutrition education and 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 distribution to disaster victims. In the event of a disaster, the Bureau of Food Distribution also provides USDA foods to disaster relief organizations for the mass feeding of disaster victims at designated shelters and feeding sites. Water is given out at various points of distribution throughout the affected area while limited amounts of ice are available for distribution to feeding sites and vulnerable populations. Luckily, Florida was spared during this year and it was not necessary for the Department to furnish supplies.