Gov. Shapiro sues USDA over canceled program benefitting farmers, food banks

State of Pennsylvania is now suing the federal government over cuts to crucial food bank programs. They say the cuts would be devastating not just to families but to local farmers as well. Action News reporter Toonda Thomas is live at Pennac Farm and Education Center in Horscham. To Governor Josh Shapiro announced this lawsuit today. Yes, he did. And it's in response to the federal government cutting a program that would benefit farms just like this one. Looking above from drone 6, you can see all 13 acres here at Penny Packac Farm and Education Center. Now, these programs, 20% of everything you see was given away. It's given away to food banks and local organizations. A local program, a federal program, helped to make that easier before it was cut. And now, Pennsylvania is suing to get that money for farmers. I mean, it's certainly not always easy work. Hard work that's worth it to Kirsty Jones knowing the food she farms will feed someone. It's really kind of a great honor to be in this profession and I'm grateful for it every day. Getting fresh produce to people in need is the mission of the nonprofit Penny Packac Farm and Education Center in Horscham. Last year we gave over 26,000 lbs of our fresh food from our farm directly to our food pantry partners. That mission though became more difficult in March when the Trump administration announced it was getting rid of the local food purchasing assistance program. It reimbursed local farmers for providing produce to food banks. is is a real shame and devastating to farmers across the state. Today, a major move to challenge the program's cancellation. I've filed a lawsuit in the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the USDA to get what we are owed here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Governor John Shapiro filing the lawsuit after he says an appeals process went nowhere. 180 Pennsylvania farms rely on the program. The USDA had agreed to pay those farmers a total of $13 million over the next three years. This wasn't just about dollars. This was about trust. So, this is our volunteer center. Food banks like Share Food Program have come to rely on the fresh produce farmers provide. Now, they're also dealing with the USDA's decision to cancel food deliveries of things like meat and milk. There has been as much as $12.5 million in funding right now uh being discussed within the federal government that they're trying to reduce from our organization. Pennsylvania Food Banks and Farms now hoping a lawsuit will save the program and the produce. Everybody deserves to have fresh produce. I did reach out to the USDA about the lawsuit and they say they do not comment on pending litigation in Horscham. Terra Thomas, Channel 6 Action News. It's the fight to playing out in fields all across America right now.