Native farms in Illinois with extra product can now join with meals banks and nonprofits of their space to supply donations or marked down meals objects via an internet listing.  

The Donations and Reductions Depot is the brainchild of the Illinois Farm Bureau and goals to cut back meals waste.  

This system is an internet buy-sell discussion board hosted by the Illinois Specialty Growers Affiliation the place farmers can create listings for bulk merchandise at both a reduced worth, or as a donation for meals banks and different nonprofit organizations like homeless shelters and soup kitchens. 

Meals banks are struggling to supply aid to Individuals in want as demand and prices concurrently skyrocket. Inflation hit a 40-year excessive in June at 9.1%, however meals costs elevated by 10.4%, in response to the Division of Labor. Meals banks nationwide have seen lengthy strains as demand surges

“We knew that we had this know-how that already had a buy-sell discussion board the place individuals might submit advertisements, so it appeared like an concept that this might create an actual time motion and attain extra individuals and join these which are smaller farms that possibly don’t have sufficient product for the meals banks, with smaller nonprofits in search of meals entry,” mentioned Raghela Scavuzzo, IFB affiliate director of meals techniques improvement.

Farmers set their very own parameters for a way a lot meals is accessible, the value, and if transportation is required.

In a state dominated by corn and soybean farmers, Scavuzzo mentioned individuals can be stunned to seek out out simply what number of specialty farmers there are in Illinois. 

“We are literally the primary pumpkin producer, asparagus, inexperienced beans, cauliflower, primary in horseradish, so we even have a fairly broad specialty crop farms with over 3,600 specialty crop farmers across the state,” mentioned Scavuzzo.  

For a restricted time, a small group of farmers and nonprofits are invited to register for a comfortable launch of the Donations and Reductions Depot program. Registration will run via Sept. 1, and taking part farmers and nonprofits will then be capable to start itemizing/buying produce beginning Sept. 12 via the autumn season. 

This system will launch in full in January 2023.