Media Coverage

Food prices in the U.S. remain stubbornly high, having grown by more than 20% since the start of the pandemic, outpacing inflation.

Now hunger relief organizations warn a potential shutdown of the federal government could mean disruptions and delays for Ohioans who rely on federal aid through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as Food Stamps.

Joree Novotny is executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended a program that partners local food banks with local farmers used by farmers and food banks across southwest Ohio.

The USDA this month notified states that it did not plan to carry out a second round of funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance program for fiscal year 2025, but funds for existing contracts nationwide aren’t frozen. This move followed the Trump administration approving steep budget cuts at the USDA.

Michael Goldstick, of Guided By Mushrooms in New Lebanon, said local farmers have a little bit of time to plan around this change, as existing contracts will be funded through June.

“We invested, planned and grew for this program,” he said. “We appreciate the runway to work toward alternatives, a Plan B, but we’re disappointed that small farmers, hungry families and food banks will be impacted by this. And this is nationwide.”

Local food banks are feeling the pinch — and may be forced to offer less fresh produce — amid funding cuts to a federal program connecting them and some school districts with local farmers and challenges with rising food costs.

The concern is the latest round of struggles for food banks in Ohio amid policy changes, rising food costs and a proposed state budget that would cut funding for food banks to purchase food — all while Ohio food banks experience record levels of need.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently canceled money for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), which supplies assistance to local food banks, schools and organizations in underserved communities. According to USA Today, LFPA agreements would continue, but there would not be another round of funding this year.

Thousands of Ohioans relying on SNAP benefits to feed their families are finding their accounts drained due to electronic skimming fraud.

Criminals are installing devices at grocery store checkout terminals, stealing people's electronic benefits or EBT card information and wiping out funds.

Audrey Vanzant, director of communications for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said victims often do not realize it until it is too late.

"They're taking their account information and draining their accounts," Vanzant explained. "When that mother or that grandparent goes to swipe their benefit card, it's coming up that they have a zero dollar balance."

CINCINNATI — Food banks across Ohio are seeing a drastic increase in the number of people they serve. Kurt Reiber, President & CEO of Freestone Foodbank, said that increase is due to inflation.

“The inflationary pressures across the board in terms of not only food but in terms of housing cost, travel, you know transportation, the cost of gasoline,” Reiber said.

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks told us in 2024 they saw the highest number of people ever come through their food banks and pantries. So far in 2025, the trend is continuing.

“What we're seeing already this year, is that we’re seeing a 35% increase at our markets and across our entire 20-county service area,” Reiber said.

When prices go up, more people struggle to pay for food. That’s the lesson the last three years have taught the Southeast Ohio Foodbank.

Demand has been up significantly since food prices first surged in 2022. It went up again after pandemic-era SNAP allotments ended in 2023. Now, back-and-forth tariffs between the United States and its largest trading partners are threatening to cause another spike.

“Historically, as food prices increase, we see an increased need for assistance at the food bank and throughout our pantry partners,” said HAPCAP Development Director Eva Bloom.

The problem extends throughout Ohio, according to Ohio Association of Foodbanks Executive Director Joree Novotny.

“From July through December of 2024 — we served more individual food pantry visits in those six months than we ever had in any six-month period in our 35-year history,” Novotny said.