Local food leaders and nonprofits urge Tompkins County to invest as federal programs face cuts

Don Barber, chair of the Tompkins County Food Policy Council and member of Tompkins Food Future, opened public comments at the June 3 Tompkins County Legislature meeting by framing food as a basic necessity and warning of growing vulnerability in food supply and distribution.

“The current disruption to our food system will require more resources to respond,” Barber said, noting the county-supported food system plan the legislature accepted in February 2022 and the county funds that helped launch a shared kitchen, training and a food-scraps drop-off program.

Sarah Paradiso, a local food access worker and member of the Food Policy Council, told legislators food pantries are seeing “unprecedented demand” and that pantries are part of many households’ survival strategies, not a last-resort stop. “Goodwill isn’t enough. We will need real investment in our local food system, including support in infrastructure, transportation, staffing, culturally appropriate local food access,” she said.

Speakers gave specific examples of the consequences of federal policy changes. Sarah DeFrank of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier said the Commodity Credit Corporation cancellations removed 15 trailer loads of USDA food — the equivalent of about 215,000 meals valued at roughly $434,000 — and that proposed federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid could have much larger local impacts. “SNAP brings in $1,500,000 a month into Tompkins County as of March 2025,” DeFrank said.

Michael Ramos, president and CEO of United Way of Tompkins County, said multiple local organizations are already coordinating emergency responses but urged the county and other funders to plan for a “rainy day” now rather than reacting after cuts take effect.

Local providers emphasized that demand is already rising. Kelly Sauve, executive director of Loaves and Fishes, said her program served more than 65,000 meals last year — a nearly 40% increase — and that cuts to SNAP would reduce buying power and increase local need.

Several speakers, including Sharon Tragaskis, who coordinates a USDA-funded local assistance award, urged legislators to continue funding farm-to-food pilots and other investments that keep resources and purchases local.

Why it matters: Speakers said federal changes are already shifting what local food banks and pantries can obtain and that the county’s investments in the food system plan and pilot purchasing programs have helped keep local food flowing. They asked the legislature to consider additional, deliberate investment to shore up distribution, infrastructure and culturally appropriate food access for residents.

What’s next: Several legislators on the dais acknowledged the concern and said they would press to keep food access on committee agendas and the radar during upcoming budget work. The legislature did not take any formal action during the meeting on new food funding.

Ending: Speakers framed their requests as offers to collaborate. Don Barber said Tompkins Food Future and other groups will return with more detail as they collect data and design possible county actions.