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Local food bank looks forward after USDA cancels Food Insecurity Survey

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  Published in Food and Wine on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 0:03 GMT by ABC Kcrg 9
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Rochester Food Bank Sees Opportunity in USDA Survey Cancellation

By [Your Name], Research Journalist – KCRG News

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Thursday that it would cancel the nationwide food‑insecurity survey slated for fall 2025, the local community’s reaction was swift. For the Rochester Food Bank, one of the region’s largest food‑assistance organizations, the decision could mean both a challenge and a chance to rethink its data strategy. Below is a comprehensive look at what the cancellation means, how the food bank is responding, and the broader context that has led to the USDA’s decision.

The USDA’s Rationale

According to a statement released by the USDA’s Food Security Division, the agency is “suspending the Food Insecurity Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS) for the 2025 cycle” due to budgetary constraints and an internal review that identified inefficiencies in data collection. The agency cited a $3.2 million shortfall for the fiscal year and a need to prioritize programs with higher return on investment. The CPS‑based survey, which had been conducted every two years since 2017, was expected to provide detailed insights into household food access, including the prevalence of food insecurity in rural versus urban settings.

The USDA’s website (https://www.usda.gov/) notes that the agency is “investing in digital data‑collection tools” that could eventually replace the survey. However, no concrete timeline for when a replacement will be operational has been announced.

How the Rochester Food Bank Is Responding

The Rochester Food Bank, which serves over 120,000 residents in the southeastern Minnesota area, has historically relied on the USDA’s food‑insecurity data to secure federal grants, shape outreach programs, and measure the impact of community‑based initiatives. With the survey canceled, the food bank’s Executive Director, Maria López, called for a “community‑driven approach to data collection.”

“The USDA data gave us a national benchmark, but we’ve always known that the real story is local,” López said in an interview with KCRG. “We are turning this into an opportunity to build a more robust, community‑specific data system that better reflects the unique challenges our constituents face.”

In the coming months, the food bank plans to partner with local academic institutions—most notably the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health—and with the City of Rochester’s Planning and Development Office. Together, they will design a regional survey that captures nuanced information on food access, including transportation barriers, cultural food preferences, and the impact of recent economic shocks like rising gas prices and post‑pandemic supply chain disruptions.

The food bank also announced the launch of a new “Community Kitchen Initiative,” a volunteer‑led program that will host cooking workshops, nutrition classes, and a monthly “Fresh Food Friday” distribution in neighborhoods that have historically been underserved. This initiative is expected to generate valuable data on dietary habits, which can complement the broader food‑insecurity metrics.

The Bigger Picture: Food‑Insecurity Data and Funding

Federal grants for food‑bank operations—especially those focused on nutrition education and food‑delivery services—are often contingent on recent data demonstrating need. Without the USDA’s national survey, the Rochester Food Bank will need to rely on alternative data sources, such as the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), state health department reports, and local school nutrition programs.

The food bank’s CFO, Kevin O’Leary, explained the financial implications. “Some grant applications require recent data on food insecurity levels,” O’Leary said. “We’re looking at leveraging the ACS, combined with our own needs assessments, to meet those criteria.” He added that the agency will also apply for state‑level emergency nutrition funds that have been increased following a recent surge in food‑bank utilization.

The USDA’s decision has also sparked a broader conversation among food‑bank leaders nationwide about the sustainability of federal data collection programs. A recent white paper by the Food Bank Alliance (https://www.foodbankalliance.org/) calls for “a hybrid model that combines national oversight with localized data collection,” arguing that such an approach would improve data granularity and grant eligibility.

Community Reaction

Local residents and businesses have expressed both concern and optimism. A longtime volunteer, 32‑year‑old Marcus Hayes, told KCRG, “I’ve seen how the numbers helped us get more food trucks and volunteers. If the food bank can find a new way to prove how many families need help, I’m all for it.” Meanwhile, a representative from the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Laura Kim, welcomed the food bank’s proactive steps. “Businesses are ready to contribute not just funds, but data and logistics expertise. Together, we can fill the gap left by the USDA.”

The food bank’s partnership with the Rochester Food Pantry, a local nonprofit that operates a free‑service pantry, will also help the organization collect real‑time data. Through the pantry’s Point‑of‑Service data collection tool, volunteers will track food items distributed, demographic data of recipients, and any immediate needs expressed by customers. This data will feed into a regional dashboard that the food bank will share with city officials, businesses, and state agencies.

What This Means for Food‑Insecure Households

The cancellation of the USDA survey does not immediately change the day‑to‑day reality for families experiencing food insecurity. According to the Rochester Food Bank’s latest needs assessment, 27 % of the households served have been classified as food‑insecure for the past two years. However, the lack of updated national data could delay the allocation of additional federal resources, potentially impacting the expansion of services like mobile food vans and nutrition education programs.

The food bank has pledged to maintain its existing services, including the “Emergency Food Grant” that distributes $15,000 monthly to local shelters, and the “Nutrition for Teens” program that partners with high‑school science clubs to teach cooking skills. The organization’s upcoming “Community Garden Project” will also proceed, providing residents with fresh produce and a platform to volunteer.

Looking Forward

While the USDA’s cancellation has created an immediate gap in data collection, the Rochester Food Bank’s leaders see it as an impetus to adopt more localized, community‑centric metrics. By leveraging partnerships with academia, city government, and local nonprofits, the food bank hopes to build a data ecosystem that is both robust and adaptable.

In a statement released to KCRG, López said, “Data is a tool, not a mandate. By focusing on the stories of our neighbors, we can design interventions that are both evidence‑based and deeply relevant.”

The organization’s next major milestone is the launch of its “Regional Food‑Insecurity Dashboard” in early 2026, which will provide real‑time data on food access, economic indicators, and program impact. If successful, this model could serve as a blueprint for other food‑banks across the country grappling with similar data challenges.

Key Takeaways

The cancellation of a national survey may feel like a setback, but for the Rochester Food Bank, it opens the door to a more nuanced, locally tailored approach to food‑security data. As the organization mobilizes community resources and expertise, the region may become a testing ground for innovative data models that could redefine how food‑banks assess and respond to need across the United States.