A $3,739,176,000 Food Budget Shortfall
World Food Day is an annual day to raise awareness of global hunger and food security issues. It is recognized on October 16th, the anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's founding.It’s a hard pill to swallow for our nation’s farmers and ranchers, busy day-in and day-out doing nothing but producing food. But what’s the reality for regional food insecurity?
Let’s start with a definition. “Food insecurity” is an official term from the USDA. It's when people don't have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from. It's a big problem in the United States, where 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity annually.
Nationally, 2022 numbers show that 13.5% of Americans are food insecure.
In California, 12.6% of the population is considered to be food insecure. That equates to 4,915,450 individuals in the state. The average meal cost in California is tallied at $4.05 which brings the annual food budget shortfall to $3,739,176,000.
We’re not ending on a low note. For resources on how to help, visit FeedingAmerica.org