The USDA's $67 Million Purchase Is a Mere Gesture as 47 Million Americans Face Hunger

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $67 million plan to buy fresh seafood, fruits, and vegetables for food banks, it felt like a spark of progress. The idea of nutritious food reaching struggling families while supporting farmers is hard to argue against. Yet, with 47 million people in 18 million households grappling with food insecurity, this effort seems more like a gesture than a game-changer. Why does the government keep offering crumbs when families need a full plate?

Using Section 32 of the 1935 Agriculture Act, the USDA will purchase items like canned pears, Great Northern beans, and Pacific pink shrimp to stock food banks. These efforts aim to stabilize agricultural markets and feed those in need. But with child food insecurity rates nearing 20 percent, and some rural areas hitting 50 percent, a one-time buy won’t fix a broken system. Hunger is a daily reality for too many, and it demands more than temporary relief.

Families deserve a food system that ensures no one goes to bed hungry. The USDA’s role isn’t just to balance market prices but to guarantee access to healthy food for all. Why are we still tinkering around the edges when we could be rebuilding the system from the ground up?

In 2023, 13.5 percent of U.S. households couldn’t reliably afford food, a jump from 12.8 percent the previous year. That translates to 18 million households, including 14 million children, living with the anxiety of empty pantries. Black and Latinx families face food insecurity at rates over twice those of White households, revealing stark inequities. These figures aren’t abstract—they represent real people needing real solutions.

The USDA’s $67 million purchase is a small but meaningful step. Since 2021, initiatives like the Local Food Purchase Assistance program have invested $691 million in small and medium-sized farmers, generating $1.5 billion in local economic activity. This shows federal spending can nourish communities and strengthen supply chains. Yet, looming proposals to cut $230 billion from agriculture programs by 2034, including freezes to SNAP’s cost-of-living adjustments, could unravel these gains. How can we even consider slashing aid when families need an extra $22.37 per person weekly to buy basic groceries?

Some claim food banks and private charities should bear the burden of hunger relief, arguing federal programs are too costly. But food banks, serving 50 million people in 2023, depend heavily on USDA commodities through The Emergency Food Assistance Program. Without robust government backing, these organizations would be overwhelmed. Relying solely on charity to solve a national crisis is neither practical nor just.

A future without hunger is within reach, but it requires bold action. The 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health laid out a plan to end hunger by 2030. That goal demands expanding nutrition programs, not shrinking them. Restoring the 2021 Thrifty Food Plan, which boosted SNAP benefits and lifted millions out of poverty, would align aid with today’s grocery prices. Scrapping work requirements for adults would prevent families from losing benefits due to red tape.

Programs like Healthy School Meals for All and Summer EBT prove that feeding kids well benefits everyone. These initiatives reduce hunger, improve health, and support local farmers. Expanding access to fresh produce through farmers market incentives would make nutritious food available to all, regardless of income. Why aren’t we investing more in strategies that work?

The USDA’s Section 32 funds, which spent $900 million on nutrition programs in 2023, hold immense potential. By focusing on local procurement and culturally relevant foods, these funds can empower small farmers and ensure food banks provide meals that honor diverse diets. This approach builds a food system that’s equitable and sustainable for the long haul.

Hunger is a choice we make through policy. Suggestions to move nutrition programs to the Department of Health and Human Services or tighten SNAP eligibility would weaken the USDA’s ability to address food insecurity. These proposals, often pitched as ways to encourage self-sufficiency, overlook the struggles of working families who still can’t afford groceries. Reducing benefits won’t empower people—it will trap them in deeper hardship.

We have the tools to eliminate hunger. The USDA’s $3.4 billion in domestic food purchases in 2023 supported farmers and fed millions. Food banks, like those in Los Angeles distributing 4 million pounds of food weekly, also connect people to job training and health services. But these efforts need stronger federal commitment to succeed. We can’t let budget cuts erase decades of progress.

The USDA’s $67 million purchase is a starting point, but it’s far from enough. We need a government that guarantees every family’s right to healthy food. The question is whether we’ll act with the urgency this crisis demands or let millions continue to struggle in silence.