Farm to Plate program connects farmers food banks and families
The John Deere Foundation has announced a new $18.5 million Farm-to-Plate strategy aimed at improving food security and strengthening connections between farmers, food banks, and communities across the United States. The multi-year initiative is designed to help move nutritious food from farms to people facing hunger while creating new opportunities for agricultural producers.
The investment is centered on two major partnerships. The Foundation will provide $17 million over three years to Feeding America and an additional $1.5 million to The Farmlink Project. Together, these organizations will help recover surplus food, improve food distribution systems, and expand access to healthy food for families in need.
"Through our Farm-to-Plate strategy, we're excited to build on John Deere's decades-long support of food banks while helping farmers play an even bigger role in addressing hunger," said Deanna Kovar, President, Worldwide Ag & Turf Division for Production and Precision Ag at John Deere. "Farmers have a long tradition of supporting their communities. By connecting them directly with food banks, we're creating new opportunities for producers and helping more families access nutritious food closer to home."
A significant portion of the funding, more than $13 million, will support food security programs in Iowa. One of the key projects is a new Farm to Food Bank initiative that will connect more than 100 farmers with regional food banks. The effort is expected to create stronger relationships between agricultural producers and hunger-relief organizations while helping more locally grown food reach communities.
Through the Feeding America partnership, the Foundation plans to expand food sourcing and distribution capabilities across a nationwide network that includes hundreds of food banks, state associations, regional cooperatives, food pantries, and meal programs. These investments are intended to strengthen the food supply chain and improve the delivery of nutritious food to families.
The Farm-to-Plate strategy also includes employee volunteer programs. From 2026 through 2029, approximately 22,000 John Deere employees are expected to participate in meal-packing events and community hunger-relief activities. The company estimates these efforts could help pack up to 1.8 million meals.
Another important part of the initiative focuses on reducing food waste. The Foundation's partnership with The Farmlink Project will help recover surplus produce that might otherwise go unused. The recovered food will be redirected to organizations serving people experiencing food insecurity across the country.
Over the next three years, the Farmlink partnership is expected to rescue about 6.4 million pounds of fresh produce. The program aims to provide approximately 5.3 million meals and increase access to nutritious food for more than 273,000 people. It is also expected to support between 30 and 60 farming operations in multiple states.
Food recovery has become an important issue across the agricultural industry. Large quantities of fresh food can remain unused due to changing market conditions, transportation challenges, or supply chain disruptions. Programs that connect farmers with food assistance organizations help ensure that quality food reaches people instead of being wasted.
"America grows a lot of good food, and farmers know their communities. Our job is to make sure more of that food can reach neighbors who need it," said Denis McDonough, CEO of Feeding America. "John Deere's investment will help food banks build stronger, more direct relationships with farmers in Iowa and across the country, while strengthening the systems that move fresh food where it can do the best. That is the kind of partnership this moment requires."
The Foundation believes that stronger food systems require cooperation from producers, food banks, nonprofit organizations, and local communities. By investing in food recovery, direct farmer-to-food-bank relationships, and community engagement, the Farm-to-Plate strategy seeks to address challenges throughout the food supply chain.
"Too much of America's fresh food still never leaves the farm," said Eliza Blank, CEO of The Farmlink Project. "With this grant from John Deere, The Farmlink Project can continue building a more resilient supply chain that keeps good food in circulation, supports farmers when markets fail, and ensures millions of pounds of fresh produce reach people instead of landfills."
Founded in 1948, the John Deere Foundation has contributed more than $400 million to charitable causes. The organization focuses on improving food security, expanding educational opportunities, and supporting stronger communities. Through this latest initiative, the Foundation is building its long history of community investment while helping farmers play a greater role in addressing hunger across America.
Photo Credit: John Deere Company