Feeding Pennsylvania Testifies Before State Senate on Rising Grocery Costs and Food Insecurity

As grocery prices continue to strain household budgets, Feeding Pennsylvania joined lawmakers and community leaders in Pittsburgh last week to discuss how rising food costs are affecting families across the Commonwealth.

Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee during its hearing on Lowering Consumer Grocery Costs, sharing the charitable food network’s perspective on the growing affordability crisis and the increasing demand facing food banks across Pennsylvania. Joining her on the panel were Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Government Affairs Director Colleen Young and Jewish Family & Community Services of Pittsburgh, who brought additional local perspectives to the discussion.

In her testimony, Bancroft highlighted the latest Map the Meal Gap data showing that more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians are experiencing food insecurity and explained how rising grocery prices are forcing more families to turn to food banks for support. She emphasized that many households are working hard but still finding it increasingly difficult to afford basic necessities.

The neighbors our network serves are often one rent increase, medical diagnosis, or car repair away from needing help. Many are working parents or seniors on fixed incomes who are being priced out of grocery stores and forced to make impossible choices about rent, medicine, utilities, transportation, and food.

Julie Bancroft, Feeding PA CEO

Bancroft also discussed the broader pressures affecting Pennsylvania’s charitable food system. For example, the cost for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Cooperative to ship a truckload of produce to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank increased from $1,475 to $1,775 in one year’s time, and the average cost per pound of produce rose from 22 cents to 30 cents. The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s cost to purchase ground beef is 42% higher than it was in 2021, while green beans cost 22% more, and corn costs 17% more. Rising food prices, transportation costs, and cuts to federal nutrition programs mean food banks are scrambling to do more with less, just as the families they serve are doing the same.

The testimony further highlighted the importance of strong state and federal nutrition programs. While Pennsylvania’s charitable food network plays a critical role in helping families bridge temporary gaps, she emphasized that food banks cannot replace the scale of federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP. At the state level, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) and State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) help food banks provide nutritious, PA-produced food while supporting Pennsylvania farmers—investments in these programs are critical as food costs rise for both food banks and neighbors.

“We’re grateful to Senator Nick Miller, Senator Jay Costa, and the members of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee for the opportunity to share the experiences of Pennsylvania families and the charitable food network that serves them,” said Bancroft. “Conversations like these are essential to ensuring policymakers understand the real challenges families are facing and the role that strong public-private partnerships play in addressing food insecurity.”

Watch the full hearing.