WSDA Blog

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Author: samira guirguis

Access to food is critical during times of hardship, and food banks are essential in providing relief. The Food Assistance team administers nine unique programs and over four grants. One of these, the USDA program called The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), facilitates WSDA distributing food from federal sources to local food banks, meal programs, and pantries. This program ensures that food reaches communities who need it, helping to address hunger and food insecurity all over Washington State, serving over 800,000 people every month.

Obtaining food for those in need

WSDA Food Assistance Logistics Specialist James Scovel helps to oversee the program at WSDA. He explains that TEFAP is the largest program for food distribution in Washington state. “We get a fair amount of money and a huge amount of food through TEFAP, and that food is distributed through 19 lead agencies across the state,” Scovel says. These lead agencies, including well-known organizations like Food Lifeline in Seattle and smaller organizations like Rural Resources in Colville, serve as key players in managing food storage and distribution. They operate large warehouses where food is sorted and redistributed to smaller food banks and community organizations.

WSDA’s role in this intricate process is crucial. “Our job is to make sure the food gets to where it’s needed,” Scovel said. The department acts as the middleman, contracting with lead agencies and ordering food from USDA contracts. These funds are used to procure both “entitlement” food (based on a set amount of federal funding) and “bonus” food (based on periodic surpluses in the market). 

“We order vegetables, fruits, proteins, and grains,” Scovel explains. “And we receive a wide range of products from across the U.S. including Halal and Kosher foods,” he says. “Some of the foods ordered come from Washington. For example, many juices are produced by Tree Top in Yakima, and dairy is sourced from Washington as well.”

Storing and distributing food

A unique feature of Washington’s food distribution network is its decentralized structure by design. Unlike other states that may rely on a single large warehouse, Washington distributes food from 19 different warehouses located throughout the state. This system allows for more efficient distribution, especially in rural areas where access to food may be more limited. As Scovel puts it, “Decentralized warehousing allows for better distribution,” noting that smaller, local agencies can absorb food and handle distribution on a much more granular level.

A key element in this network’s success is the relationship between the lead agencies and the sub agencies, which are the food banks, meal programs, and local organizations directly interacting with clients. These lead agencies receive direct shipments of USDA food and are responsible for getting it to the sub agencies, which in turn, distribute it to the individuals and families. For lead agencies that can’t accept direct shipments from USDA we are proud to partner with Northwest Harvest which provides state-level storage and transportation. These methods ensure that food gets to all corners of the state, no matter how remote.

One example of a lead agency’s capacity to manage large quantities of food is Food Lifeline, based in Seattle. Scovel explains that King county’s population, combined with the percentage of that population in poverty, means that it handles nearly 25 percent of all TEFAP food sent to Washington. In contrast, Rural Resources in Colville serves a three-county area (Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille) but the population and percentage of that population in poverty means they receive just under 2 percent of the total TEFAP food sent to Washington.

When ordering food, the department takes feedback from lead agencies, sub agencies and other stake holders about what products work best in their communities. For example, while some areas may prefer canned vegetables, others might need more protein-based foods. This feedback-driven approach allows WSDA to place orders that meet the varying needs of Washington’s population.

Working to eliminate food insecurity

WSDA’s role in food assistance goes beyond food distribution. The department also works to address long-term issues of food insecurity through programs like the Farm to Food Pantry initiative and various resiliency grants. Scovel notes that although food banking is a large part of their work—about 60 to 70% of their efforts—the department’s scope also includes supporting agriculture and emergency response initiatives.

In 2024, WSDA distributed over 35.6 million pounds of food through the TEFAP program alone. This large-scale operation ensures that nearly 300,000 family’s households across Washington have access to critical food assistance — 841,583 people every month. As Scovel reflects on his role, he emphasizes the importance of this work: 
“I gravitated toward food assistance because I believe everyone deserves food. This job matters. Feeding people and supporting those who need assistance is important. Everyone here is passionate about what they do, and we’re fortunate to have a team of incredibly smart and dedicated people.”

Increasing efforts in response to growing need

Kim Eads, WSDA Food Assistance Program Manager for 36 years, has witnessed the program's growth in response to rising demand.

“Over the years, we've seen a growing need for food assistance,” she says. “The support we've received from both state and federal levels has enabled us to expand our offerings. What began with just five basic items, like cheese and butter, has now grown to include over 135 products, allowing us to meet a wide range of nutritional and cultural needs.”

The work of the Washington State Department of Agriculture in managing TEFAP and supporting the network of food banks is a vital part of the state's response to hunger. By facilitating the distribution of millions of pounds of food and coordinating across numerous local agencies, WSDA helps ensure that no one in Washington goes without the food they need.