The Weld Food Bank is relying on farmers in California and Arizona to make up for a shortfall in produce donations.
The food bank’s executive director Bob O’Connor says local farmers haven’t given as much this year because of the drought. As a result produce donations are down by nearly 350,000 pounds.
“Every food bank is experiencing some decline in produce. In Weld County we are the ninth largest agricultural community in the country so the impact is greater for us than it would be for some of the other food banks," says Bob O'Connor.
O’Connor says accepting produce donations from California and Arizona is costing the food bank nearly 20 percent more in shipping costs than normal.
The Weld Food Bank distributes food to more than 100 nonprofit organizations. In 2011, the Weld Food Bank received 2.5 million pounds of produce.
