Letter: Legislation could mean more money for food banks

• Sen. Jim Vickerman

Dist. 22 Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy

Talk about it

My legislation to establish the Feeding Minnesota Task Force recently passed its first committee on its way to becoming law. If passed into law, the proposed task force would bring together leaders from the agriculture community, represented by 16 organizations and industries, to find the most effective way they could be a benefit to food banks in the state.

Our food shelves are having a difficult time keeping up with demand, and I think the agriculture community can help. There is harvested food that is not sold and goes to waste. We need to find a way to get that food to the people that need it the most.

The task force will be asked to study the best way for Minnesota’s farmers to donate food after harvest, and what the barriers are between them and donation. I’ve been working with the Second Harvest food bank organization on the legislation, and I hope it will result in more food on the shelves for families hit hard by the nation’s economic recession.

Times are tough right now for a lot of families, and it is going to take a while for the economy to turn around. Minnesotans need to help each other through these hard times. I think most farmers would be happy to help, if the opportunity is there. That’s what this group will do — find out the best way we can help.

Tags: food banks, opinion, jimvickerman, jim, vickerman, minnesota, legislature, letters