Moscow, IdahoIn response to cuts in federal aid, University of Idaho Extension is stepping up its efforts to assist food banks in northern Idaho. To make up for the loss of federal food programs, extension agents are cultivating potatoes and working with cattle producers.
This season, U of I’s Sandpoint Organic Agricultural Center planted 600 pounds of potato seed at the Bonner Community Food Center’s request. Next year, the center intends to grow other storage crops, like as winter squash, cabbage, and onions. Officials anticipate harvesting up to one ton of potatoes despite the late planting.
“We’re constantly searching for methods to be beneficial and influential in our community, so when this opportunity presented itself, it was an obvious choice for us,” said Kyle Nagy, the superintendent of SOAC. We had to assist, we knew.With 21% of children and 14.7% of the population in northern Idaho lacking consistent access to food, the project comes at a time when food insecurity is a serious problem. Over the past two years, demand has increased by 53%, according to Debbie Love, executive director of the Bonner Community Food Center, but federal help has drastically decreased.
According to Extension educator Audra Cochran, food insecurity is a problem in the country as a whole, but it is particularly prevalent in Idaho and particularly in north Idaho. We’re all working together to support our communities and food banks.Through the cattle Counts initiative, extension educators are also collaborating with Idaho’s cattle sector. Most recently, they assisted in labeling 2,000 pounds of ground beef for the Lewiston Branch of the Idaho Foodbank.
Since 2010, the initiative has given more than 6.5 million portions of beef to people in need.
