ICYMI: Torres Small Cosponsors “Farmers Feeding Families Act” to Address Mismatch Between NM Farms and Food Banks

Las Cruces, N.M. –  Last week, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small, NM-02, cosponsored the Farmers Feeding Families Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6725) alongside lawmakers representing the western United States. This legislation will provide much-needed additional funding to address the mismatch between New Mexico’s hurting agriculture industry and families struggling to feed their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Farmers Feeding Families Coronavirus Response Act purchases goods from small and medium farmers and producers who are sitting on surplus crops and provide them to food banks and food assistance programs that are facing unprecedented demands. 

“As restaurants and schools close their doors to keep us all healthy and safe, New Mexican farmers and ranchers face unprecedented disruptions to long-established production and distribution chains. Through no fault of their own, many dairies are forced to dump milk and reduce herds, farmers are plowing produce into the ground, and cattle producers can’t find open slaughterhouses. Meanwhile, many New Mexicans have lost their jobs and are turning to food banks to help feed their families, and food banks struggle to keep up with demand,” said Torres Small, member of the House Committee on Agriculture. “This bill lays out a coordinated, strategic plan to address this mismatch by ensuring farmers can send their surplus food to food banks.”

The Farmers Feeding Families Coronavirus Response Act will:

• Use federal funding for targeted purchases to buy food from producers who rely on local agricultural markets—such as farmers’ markets, farm-to-table restaurants and farm-to-school programs
• Provide funding for state agencies and their food-bank partners to directly and immediately replenish their food stocks to meet increased demand
• Allow states to support producers who may not normally participate in USDA’s national purchase programs by purchasing surplus perishable foods at risk of going to waste

If the Farmers Feeding Families Coronavirus Response Act is signed into law, state agencies and food banks will be able to make these short-term food purchases through funding from federal commodity support funds.

To read more about Congresswoman Torres Small’s efforts to fight for central and southern New Mexico’s farms, small businesses, and health care providers, please visit torressmall.house.gov. 

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