At Feeding Georgia, we believe every family deserves access to fresh, healthy food — and that starts with supporting the people who grow it. Our Farm to Food Bank program is building a powerful bridge between Georgia’s farmers and families, ensuring that nutritious, locally grown food reaches every corner of our state.

Too often, good food goes to waste because it doesn’t fit grocery store standards or because farmers grow more than they can sell. At the same time, too many Georgia families struggle to put meals on the table. Farm to Food Bank brings those two realities together in the best way possible: by connecting surplus crops from Georgia farmers directly to food banks.

Instead of being left in the field, these fruits and vegetables make their way into the hands of families who need them most — fresh, wholesome, and full of the nutrients that fuel healthy lives.

Recently, Feeding Georgia received a $1 million grant to strengthen the Farm to Food Bank program. As the statewide network supporting seven regional food banks — six of which are outside metro Atlanta — this funding will:

• Purchase food from Georgia growers, ensuring farmers are supported while families are nourished.
• Repurpose unmarketable produce for consumption, reducing food waste across the state.
• Expand nutritional access in 104 rural counties, where food insecurity is often most acute and resources are harder to reach.

This investment underscores the critical role Farm to Food Bank plays in both hunger relief and in supporting Georgia’s agricultural community.

In October 2025, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced nearly $1 million in Farm to Food Bank Program awards, with $825,000 distributed among eight regional food banks across the state. This funding — part of a partnership between the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Feeding Georgia — will help provide more than 14 million pounds of fresh produce to Georgians facing food insecurity. By purchasing “unmarketable” but perfectly healthy produce directly from Georgia farmers, the program strengthens the state’s agricultural economy while ensuring wholesome food reaches families in need. Commissioner Harper emphasized the program’s dual impact: supporting farm families while nourishing Georgia communities.

• Donations & Purchases from Farmers: Through the Farm to Food Bank Program, Georgia farmers donate or sell imperfect and surplus crops—like peaches that are too small for retail shelves, sweet potatoes with irregular shapes, or squash that simply exceeded market demand. These fruits and vegetables are just as fresh and nutritious as those found in stores, but without this program, many would never leave the field.
• Partnerships with Food Banks: Feeding Georgia works hand-in-hand with our seven regional food banks to purchase, collect, and distribute these Georgia-grown products to families in need across all 159 counties. Together, we’re ensuring that wholesome food grown here at home ends up on Georgia tables—not in landfills.
• Shared Commitment: This collaboration means less food waste for farmers, more fresh produce for families, and stronger, more resilient communities across the state. By transforming surplus into sustenance, we’re creating a food system that supports everyone—from the field to the family table.

Access to fresh food is about more than just calories — it’s about dignity, health, and opportunity. Farm to Food Bank helps ensure:

• Healthier Families: Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential for child development and long-term wellness.

• Stronger Farmers: Farmers can share their bounty, reduce waste, and know their work nourishes neighbors in need.

• Resilient Communities: Food banks can offer a wider variety of healthy foods, meeting families where they are with dignity and care.In 2024 alone, Georgia’s Farm to Food Bank program helped provide millions of pounds of fresh produce to communities across the state. Behind every number is a farmer proud to share their harvest and a family grateful for the support.As one partner farmer shared: “It means so much knowing the food we grow doesn’t go to waste — and instead helps our neighbors right here in Georgia.”

• Farmers: Partner with us to donate surplus crops.
• Supporters: Donate to Feeding Georgia to help with transportation, storage, and distribution costs.
• Community Members: Spread the word — the more people who know about Farm to Food Bank, the greater the impact we can make together.

Farm to Food Bank is proof that when farmers, food banks, and communities work together, everyone wins. From the field to the table, this program is nourishing Georgia families and strengthening our state — one harvest at a time.

🐝🌽🥕 Join us in growing a hunger-free Georgia.