How Sacramento can respond to changes in federal food policy

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OPINION – California produces nearly half the nation’s fruits and vegetables. Yet this holiday season, more than one in five California households face food insecurity. Among households with children, it’s one in four.

California Association of Food Banks, representing 42 food banks and nearly 6,000 partner agencies, is deeply grateful to Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislators for ensuring that Californians can put food on the table this holiday season. But as the 2026-27 budget cycle approaches, there’s an unprecedented challenge before our state leaders: increasing food insecurity paired with declining federal funding.

While food prices continue to climb, the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which is the backbone of most food banks’ food supply, is trending 38% lower than last year—and that decline is expected to continue into 2026. Meanwhile, community needs are surging. The recent 43-day federal government shutdown and November SNAP (CalFresh in California) benefits delay caused call volumes to emergency food helplines to double.

Traffic to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ (SFBFS) online food locator rose by 330% during the shutdown. And in October, SFBFS and their countywide network served 372,728 individuals, a 12% increase over September and the largest month ever in the organization’s 49-year history.

This underscores an undeniable truth: many Californians are struggling to make ends meet, and food banks provide a critical safety net. National data shows that over one-third of CalFresh recipients also visit food banks because their benefits are insufficient to meet their needs. For those who don’t – or will no longer – qualify for CalFresh, food banks are the first place to turn.

Next year, California faces the impact of H.R. 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which will directly affect over 800,000 Californians. This legislation restricts eligibility for older adults, veterans, and humanitarian immigrants, and implements stricter work rules and time limits for individuals aged 18-64 without dependent children.

As we look ahead, two major fiscal decisions will determine California’s ability to respond:

1) Bolster CalFresh outreach to protect vulnerable residents: CalFresh is still our first line of defense against hunger. For every meal a food bank can provide, CalFresh provides five, but we need outreach funding to ensure access to benefits. H.R. 1 substantially reduces funding for staff who help people enroll and stay connected to their CalFresh benefits. The Legislature should consider using state funds to mitigate harm caused by new time limits and benefit cuts for humanitarian immigrants.

2) Don’t let CalFood Funding drop 90%: But most importantly, California must sustain and grow investment in CalFood. We are deeply grateful for the state’s decision to fast-track $80 million to aid food banks during the federal shutdown. That funding kept food bank shelves stocked with California-produced foods and was a lifeline during this emergency. But with need increasing and federal commodities decreasing, it’s a resource food banks rely on every day.

If new funding is not approved in 2026, CalFood will drop from $80 million to just $8 million. That is a 90% cut at the exact moment food banks are being asked to serve more people with less. Plus, CalFood is an economic engine that delivers long-term value. Every dollar budgeted for CalFood results in a purchase of California-grown and manufactured food by food banks, making it a significant income source for farmers and food producers across the state.

We are asking the Governor and Legislature to sustain CalFood at $60 million annually and approve an additional $50 million in one-time funding in 2026-27 to provide food for those who will be pushed out of CalFresh. As the budget is set for next year, this $110 million of funding for food needs to be the top priority.

We encourage those concerned about food insecurity to get involved by volunteering or making financial donations to their local food banks, which can purchase food for pennies on the dollar to serve as many people as possible.

The federal shutdown reminded us of what’s possible when California comes together. Food banks, state government, and communities worked side by side to ensure families had food on the table. As we face what’s ahead, we’re grateful for this partnership and trust that we’ll rise to meet the moment again.

Stacia Hill Levenfeld is CEO of the California Association of Food Banks, which represents 42 food banks serving communities across California. Blake Young is President/CEO of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.