The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Feeding Pennsylvania marked the 10th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) on Monday, highlighting the program’s impact on reducing food insecurity while supporting local farmers across the commonwealth.
The celebration was held at Weaver’s Orchard in Morgantown, a longtime participant in the program that has supplied surplus fruit to Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank for distribution to families in need.
Since 2016, the PASS program has provided $31.9 million to Feeding Pennsylvania’s network of food banks to purchase surplus food from Pennsylvania farms. According to the state, the program has helped secure 38.3 million pounds of food and supported more than 31.7 million meals for 7.9 million households statewide.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said the initiative has created a partnership between farmers, food banks, and state government to address both food waste and hunger.
“Pennsylvania farmers are great at what they do. We need our farmers to stay in business. And we need to feed the 1.7 million Pennsylvanians who struggle with hunger,” Redding said. “For 10 years, PASS has been a highly effective tool for bridging that gap between abundance and need.”
PASS funding covers costs associated with harvesting, packaging, transportation, and processing surplus produce and other food items that might otherwise go unused.
Weaver’s Orchard President Ed Weaver said the Berks County orchard has benefited from the program by being able to distribute excess produce to local families through Helping Harvest.
“The PASS program has provided a valuable resource by funding the harvest, container, and transportation costs for the surplus produce we have at times throughout the year,” Weaver said. “It is rewarding to us as a family to know that we can bless others with some of our produce each season.”
Helping Harvest President and Feeding Pennsylvania Board Chair Jay Worrall said the program has improved both the quantity and quality of food available to residents experiencing food insecurity.
“Our neighbors facing food insecurity deserve the same wholesome, locally grown produce that ends up on dinner tables throughout the Commonwealth, and PASS makes that possible,” Worrall said.
State Sen. Judy Schwank also attended the event and called for continued state support of the program.
“Supporting farmers and feeding our neighbors makes Pennsylvania a better place for all of us to live,” Schwank said.
According to Feeding Pennsylvania, one in eight Pennsylvanians struggles with hunger.
The Shapiro Administration said Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed continued food security investments in the 2026-27 state budget, including funding for PASS, the State Food Purchase Program, food banks, and a new State Food Bucks program designed to supplement SNAP benefits.
State officials also highlighted broader agricultural investments proposed in the budget, including increased funding for agricultural innovation grants, farm business support programs, and initiatives aimed at expanding access to fresh local food throughout Pennsylvania.