In a recent study involving UC Davis Professor of Human Ecology Catherine Brinkley, 2.97 millions pounds of food-bank donations from 296 organizations were analyzed to understand the dependencies between community food security and local food movements.

An important finding was that strong ties were found between the food bank and local food producers, and specifically organic producers selling directly to the public. The farmers’ rationale for donating their produce was not just based on social responsibility but also the financial benefits associated with tax credits, procurement programs, and improving relationships with the public. 

In recent years, U.S. food banks have multiplied to include a network of over 60,000 food pantries which serve over 46 million people. However, accessing food bank program structures can be more difficult for clients with the greatest needs. As food banks localize responsibility for the poor, they further disadvantage the most vulnerable populations and communities which may be better served by broader programs.

In the study, the market of charitable food was explored. Specifically, if and how the relationships between the local food movement and a rural food bank reinforced the existing globalized food system and/or fostered an alternative food movement attuned to issues of social inequality and the environment, with special attention to how economic interests motivate these relationships.

Stein and Brinkley mainly focused on the Yolo Food Bank which serves Yolo County along with around 77 nonprofit distribution partners. In 2016-17, Yolo Food Bank distributed around 4 million pounds of food to Yolo County in California.

Read the full research article by Alana Haynes Stein and Catherine Brinkley here. This is a summary of a policy brief from the UC Davis Center for Poverty & Inequality Research.