Critical food program to stop at end of the month; how it's affecting those in need

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Nov. 30, the Produce to the People program will end. The program has given SNAP (FoodShare) recipients a 50% discount on fresh produce from Outpost. With inflation and the end of Covid-19 allotments, SNAP recipients are feeling the heavy brunt.

"For me, food is the first line of medicine. What you put in your body determines how your body is going to function," said Sylvia London Jenkins, who has used the Produce to People program.

London Jenkins is one of many senior citizens who relies on the program to afford fresh produce. She said her health depends on her diet, which needs to consist of fruits and vegetables.

"With the loss of the emergency allotments, and no incentive being provided for produce, that means a lot of people are going to be eating a whole lot of more ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese," said Sherrie Tussler, CEO of Hunger Task Force.

Tussler said the program has been running for several years. Their latest proposal for funds from the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive program was denied a couple months ago.

"We wrote a really good proposal, it was in the fundable category, but other groups who wrote proposals got funded and asked for substantially more money, so they ran out of money before they got to us," said Tussler.

Tussler said she was told the plan was denied because it was "bougie." We've reached out to the USDA for comment to no avail.

In the meantime, Tussler suggests those who care about Produce to the People reach out to legislators, like Congresswoman Gwen Moore, to reinstate the program.

CBS 58 reached out to Congresswoman Gwen Moore and in a statement, she said:

"Hunger Task Force is a wonderful resource that has a long history of fighting hunger in Milwaukee. I share their concerns that their application for federal funds to support the Produce to the People program, which helps increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for FoodShare recipients, was not approved. The GUSNIP program that funds this grant is extremely popular because it expands access to healthy foods while helping local farmers. That’s why I am working with my colleagues to strengthen its funding in the next Farm bill, which will ensure that programs like Produce to the People can be funded. Addressing hunger in our communities remains a priority to me, and it’s why I continue to oppose efforts to cut programs, such as SNAP and WIC. I have heard directly from my constituents about how they will be harmed by this program's abrupt ending, and I will continue working to reduce food insecurity in our communities and help close this resource gap."