Farm to Food Bank
Helping Farmers Feed More Illinois Families
Illinois farms grow a lot of good food. But sometimes, what’s left in the field or cooler doesn’t fit the market - too ripe, too small, too much.
The Farm to Food Bank initiative creates a new channel for that food to feed local families. By buying fresh produce, dairy, meat, and eggs directly from Illinois farms, we keep dollars in the local economy and nutritious food in the hands of neighbors.
How It Works
We work with Illinois food banks to identify what’s needed most. Then we purchase seconds, surplus, or seasonal product from participating farms. It’s not a handout—it’s a smart investment in farmers, families, and community resilience.
What We’re Looking For:
Fruits and vegetables (including seconds or “no. 2s”)
Milk, cheese, and dairy products
Meat and eggs
Why It Matters:
Reduces food waste
Boosts farmer income
Supports food security in every corner of the state
Builds a stronger, statewide food system
Recognizing Our Partners: Friends of the Food Banks
Any farm or food business that donates or sells product to a food bank in the Feeding Illinois network is recognized as a Friend of the Food Banks. This growing group of producers is helping lead the way in community-based hunger relief.
We’re proud to highlight Friends of the Food Banks in our materials and media. It’s a small way to thank the folks who are keeping food local and neighbors fed.
Program Objectives
The Farm to Food Bank Program overarching goal is to build a long lasting, sustainable, state-funded program that would create a relationship of farms working directly with food banks to increase food access, economic dollars within the state, profitability for Illinois farmers, community revitalization and reduce food waste.
Objectives include:
Collection of data on surplus food in Illinois
Pilot and identify strategies and costs
Evaluate logistical opportunities and challenges
Identify best strategies with product packaging
Provide farmers with additional end markets for commodities
Expand the supply of fresh food to food banks
Increase food security
Reduce food waste
Keep products, food, and dollars in Illinois
Create a roadmap for a statewide farm to food bank program
Join the Farm to Food Bank Network
Scan the code or click on it
What Are We Buying?
We are looking for fruit, vegetables, cheese, milk, meat, eggs, and more. We would like your excess product and/or seconds. Seconds are produce items that are cosmetically imperfect in shape, size, or uniformity or are too ripe to meet the shelf life needs of your market. Seconds are also called No. 2 grade or commercial grade.
Can I Donate?
Yes, we will continue to take donations.
Any food product that doesn’t qualify as seconds can be donated to the food pantry and will still qualify for a tax exemption. To learn more about tax exemptions, click the link below.
Contact Us
If your farm would like to learn more about how you can sell food directly to food banks in the Feeding Illinois network, send us a message below and we’ll get you connected
Our Partners
The Farm-to-Food Bank Program is a collaborative effort between Feeding Illinois, the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Specialty Growers Association, the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois, and Illinois Farmers Market Association.
