The SLO Food Bank in San Luis Obispo County is facing a potential 90% cut to its CalFood funding, which provides over half of its fresh food. This comes as demand for food assistance reaches record levels.
- The proposed state budget would reduce CalFood from $80 million to $8 million statewide. - SLO Food Bank CEO Molly Kern says the cuts would total hundreds of thousands of dollars locally.
- The cuts would affect access to fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, and eggs, and also impact local farmers. - Food banks statewide are serving 6 million people per month, up from 4.5 million during the pandemic.
The final budget is still being negotiated, with a May revision expected. The cuts could have severe ripple effects on the local food system and economy.