Sacramento, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council, California Association of Food Banks, GRACE/End Child Poverty California, and the California Food and Farming Network applauded the California State Senate for passing AB 1961 (Wicks), which will develop, for the first time in state history, a strategic masterplan to end hunger in California.
Hunger continues to be near record highs, with an unacceptable, one in four households with children are food insecure overall, and deep disparities for Black, Latine, and Indigenous households. While at the same time California is losing over 1,500 small farms a year due to unnecessary barriers to grow food for our communities. Even more, the farmworkers that are harvesting our food every day are living in poverty. The groups underscore the urgent need for California to prioritize a comprehensive approach to ending hunger that brings together state agencies, with impacted community members, to develop a Master Plan that includes traditional nutrition benefits as well as actions to prevent hunger across California’s food and farming system.
“California is the nation’s fifth largest food supplier, yet too many Californians – more than one in five – can’t afford or have limited access to food,” said Todd Walters, president, UFCW Local 135. “This is exacerbated by racial and economic inequities, which is unacceptable for our diverse state. AB 1961 will allow California to study our food system and supply chain so no Californian goes hungry in the future. UFCW members, a key link in California’s food supply chain, are proud to support this bill and urge Governor Gavin Newsom to sign this bill into law.”
“Today it’s clear that the hunger crisis is not behind us, it’s upon us. The impact of the end of the pandemic boost to CalFresh benefits last year continues to ripple through our communities, along with the end of many other critical public supports that helped to keep communities nourished. With still incredible demand at food banks, three-quarters have had to scale back their operations facing funding cuts,” said Stacia Hill Levenfeld, CEO, California Association of Food Banks. “We are proud to co-sponsor this historic initiative that embodies the collaborative spirit needed to address the root causes of food insecurity across our state. By convening experts and stakeholders to develop comprehensive strategies, AB 1961 paves the way for a more equitable access to food. Together, we can build a future where no one in California goes hungry.”
“Sadly ironic, hunger is felt disproportionately across people that work in the food and farming system,” said Beth Smoker, Policy Director, California Food and Farming Network. “Food workers face higher levels of food insecurity than the rest of the U.S. workforce with 72% of agricultural workers reporting trouble paying for food, 62% of small farmers experienced food insecurity in a survey of 120 CA farmers, and over three-quarters of workers at a large grocery chain were found to be food insecure. We have a lot of work to do if the people growing, harvesting, and serving our food cannot put adequate food on their own tables. AB 1961 brings these stakeholders together in partnership with government to correct these inequities.”
“Nutrition programs are proven as some of the most effective at helping lift children and families out of poverty, but cannot by themselves end hunger,” said Shimica Gaskins, President & CEO, GRACE/End Child Poverty California. “California has proven that collaborations can produce Master Plans that deliver bold visions for change. We know that we need a whole of government approach to ensure a plan that centers a whole child, whole family perspective. The time is now for a comprehensive plan to ensure access to food and build pathways out of poverty through California’s vital food and farming economy.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2024
Contact: Jenna Thompson, UFCW Western States Council, 949.246.1620, [email protected]