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Public commenter says USDA purchase program cut will reduce food for Lane County; asks county for a resolution
Summary
A Meals on Wheels volunteer told the board the federal Commodity Credit Corporation purchasing program cancellation will cut about 15% of Food for Lane County’s supply—roughly 1.2 million pounds—and urged the board to pass a resolution asking the USDA to reverse the decision.
A Lane County resident and Meals on Wheels volunteer told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday that cancellation of a U.S. Department of Agriculture purchasing program will significantly reduce local food supplies and urged the commission to consider a resolution urging a federal reversal.
Mark Thompson said he received a letter from Food for Lane County saying the Commodity Credit Corporation’s food purchasing program supplied about 15% of the food the organization distributes and that its cancellation removes more than 1,200,000 pounds of planned food. He cited partner pantries reporting a 101% increase in visitors since 2022 and said both food-insecure residents and local farmers would be harmed by the cut.
Thompson asked the board to pass a nonbinding resolution urging the USDA to reverse the cancellation and to encourage other governments in Oregon and elsewhere to adopt a similar stance.
Commissioners did not take action on the request at the meeting; Thompson said he was addressing commissioners as a private citizen and not representing Food for Lane County.
