One in six Kentuckians is food insecure
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 26, 2016) — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture on June 2 will introduce the Hunger Initiative to seek ways to combat hunger in the commonwealth. One out of every six Kentuckians—including one in four children—is food insecure., according to KDA.
“The members of the task force will bring their unique perspectives to this persistent problem,” Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. “By bringing together the people who grow our food, sell our food, and distribute our food, we hope to find novel approaches that could help to alleviate the underlying issues of hunger in Kentucky.”
Map the Meal Gap 2016, an annual study by Feeding America, found that 17 percent of Kentucky’s population is food insecure — nearly three-quarters of a million people in all.
KDA works with The Kentucky Association of Food Banks and its local affiliates in the fight against hunger in Kentucky. KAFB administers the Farms to Food Banks program, which buys surplus and Number 2 grade produce from Kentucky farmers and distributes it to local food banks.
“Having such a dire hunger problem in Kentucky, with its rich agricultural history and abundant natural resources, is unacceptable,” Quarles said. “Together, we can make healthy, nutritious foods accessible to more Kentuckians.”
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