FOOD & AGRICULTURE

Figure 1: Cabbage and Onions Stewing for a batch of Halushki

Bleenies, Halushki, and pierogies–these are all delectable foods found in Pennsylvania Dutch Culture in Schuylkill County. However, not everyone in the county can go to bed with a full stomach. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of access to food to live a healthy or active life, plagues the area. It can lead to a myriad of health problems, from hunger to obesity. (1). Although there are systems of support in place to help citizens deal with hunger, problems still persist. Food insecurity in the county is evident through SNAP statistics, local testimonies, and food desert maps.

According to LVHN, 16% of Schuylkill County receives SNAP benefits annually  (1). The number of residents on SNAP has been steadily rising, even if national percentages have decreased. Below is a graph showing the increase. In a mere decade, SNAP users in Schuylkill County have doubled, and food insecurity has continued to rise after the pandemic.  (1).

A local article published barely six months ago details the rise in food insecurity in the county. Jay Worrall, president of local food bank and nonprofit organization, Helping Harvest, says the increasing  rate of food insecurity is unprecedented and is “is still a very substantial — even growing — issue in Schuylkill County.” (2). Likely due to the pandemic and rise in inflation, food insecurity nationally has not been to this severe of a degree in Schuylkill County since the great depression. (2). Feeding America studies, the largest charity to end hunger in the United States,  show that insecurity rose to 12.3 percent and dropped to 11 percent in 2021(3)., but local soup kitchens have felt a consistent rise in demand to the present. Local director of St. Patrick Pottsville Area Kitchen says the local demand has never been higher in 20 years of experience, and that their numbers have doubled over the recent years from serving roughly 50 people a day to 100. (2).

Food insecurity can be exacerbated by food deserts, of which Schuylkill County has plenty. This is very troublesome, considering that 20% of the population in the county is elderly, so if they reside in a food desert, it is even more difficult for them to access adequate nutrition.  (1). Major food deserts in Schuylkill County include more populated areas like Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Tamaqua, and Pottsville. (4). These deserts can be observed on the map below. Most food deserts in Schuylkill County sit at the orange color, which is code for a Low Income and Low Access to food area within ½ to 10 miles radius. (4).

With how prevalent food insecurity is in Schuylkill County, it is easy to get discouraged. However, some helpful programs are in place and many folks in the county are looking to expand them. Local soup kitchens, churches, and pantries do their part by supplying locals with fresh meals and non perishables. (2). However, in areas of excessive need like food deserts, some locals have made some grassroots solutions, like accessible give-and take boxes that any resident can use. One Schuylkill County resident, George Maroukis, decided to set a box up after being disappointed in the lack of community support for hunger problems. (2). His box has grown in time and more give-and-take boxes have popped up around the county. He even makes home deliveries to local elderly people who have difficulties gathering groceries. Below is a picture from the Republican Herald of a small give-and-take community box. (2).

Another community based solution to food insecurity arose from the Nosey Neighbors of Schuylkill County Facebook page, moderated by Kerri Schultz. The group, consisting of 28000 members, began to have an overwhelming increase of posts asking for food assistance according to Kerri, so she has made a sub post compiling organizations residents can gain assistance from, and also allowing folks to make food requests anonymously if they feel self conscious about their state of affairs. (2).

These community based solutions are sustainable in that there is a wide net of help and support growing to help beat hunger and also build stronger communities. This can be helpful if citizens want to speak out about more issues in the future if the community already has their back. Plus, a healthier community is a stronger one. Even programs like food pantries and soup kitchens have community aspects, making citizens feel less alone in their struggles and gain human connection when asking for help. A group of note is Helping Harvest, which is an organization that spans both Schuylkill and Berks county. (5). Their goal is to get fresh local produce to locals in an accessible location through their Mobile Markets programs. Monthly, at 10 locations in Schuylkill County, they set up shop and help to distribute free produce. (5). This is a wonderful solution to hunger, as it provides healthy and nutritious food, but it has its limits. Produce distribution only once a month cannot adequately supply residents with proper nutrients, but it is a good start. Supplementally, local farmer’s markets also help make produce accessible. With the large agricultural community in the county, there are several locations to choose from, like Shenandoah, Pottsville, and Renniger’s. However, these are often a drive for folks, which may make them inaccessible. (5).

Schuylkill County is known for its agriculture with farms occupying 96,886 acres of county land. (6) While only two percent of county residents consider farming their occupation, that is double the Pennsylvania average of one percent. (7). Most farms in Schuylkill County grow grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas, with the most popular crop being corn. (6). Schuylkill County’s corn is mostly for human consumption, and secondarily for animal feed. No statistics on ethanol corn could be found. (7). Schuylkill County also has several livestock and poultry producers, with poultry products making up a whopping 34% of all Schuylkill County agricultural sales. (6).

Farm producers in Schuylkill County are dominantly male and older in age. According to Penn State University, roughly  65% of farm operators are male and 35% are female. Notably, the amount of female farmers has been steadily increasing and is expected to grow. (7).

The figure below shows the alarming age distribution of farmers in the county. (7).

Older farmers overpower younger farmers in numbers, which is concerning for the future of farming in the county. Will there be future generations to care for the land, provide local food, and support the agriculture economy?

The Schuylkill Conservation District is set on at least conserving agricultural land. Schuylkill Conservation District has an Agricultural Conservation Program that provides financial and technical assistance for farmers to reduce pollution and to introduce best management practices (BMPs) to their operations. (8). The Agricultural Conservation Program works in conjunction with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) to help agriculturalists preserve their land and the environment around it. The district helps to conserve from wide scale operations and concerns to specific conservation concerns of soil. (8). The district can help a farm develop a nutrient, manure, and agricultural erosion and sedimentation control plan to encourage locals to use environmentally friendly practices. (8).

One great practice for sustainability of the land that the Agricultural Conservation Program stresses is “no till” farming. According to USDA, about thirty percent of Schuylkill County farms equip no till practices. (6). However, there is room to grow in other areas, like organic farming. Only 2% of Schuylkill County farms are certified organic. (6). Organic farming is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of farming as it uses ecological forms of pest control and fertilizer from animal and plant sources, rather than chemical. This helps to decrease pollution from farm runoff, as it prohibits uses of chemical sprays and fertilizers, which are often overused. (8). An increase in organic farming could be a starting point for more sustainable farming in the future for Schuylkill County. Barriers to these solutions, like many in Schuylkill County, is tradition and resistance to change. Many folks in Schuylkill County enjoy their way of living and do not like to change it, and with the majority of current farmers being from older generations, it is even more unlikely that they would be receptive to change (7).. However, grants from the Schuylkill Conservation District and the PA Department of Agriculture can be incentives to change practices. (8).

STAKEHOLDERS IN SCHUYLKILL FOOD SYSTEMS

  • Farmers
    • Produce food and care for local land
  • Schuylkill Conservation District
    • Invested in the state of farmland and surrounding environments
  • Schuylkill County Government
    • Invested in the state and health of their citizens
  • Lehigh Valley Health Network
    • Invested in the health and nutrition of residents
  • SNAP
    • Helps 1/7 residents with access to food
  • Churches
    • Cares for residents and often has food donations
  • Food Pantries
    • Supply folks in need with food
  • PA Dept. of Agriculture
    • Invested in local farming practices
  • Schuylkill County Citizens
    • Invested in their health and their neighbors

ASSETS IN SCHUYLKILL FOOD SYSTEMS

Bibliography

  1. Lehigh Valley Health Network. 2022. “2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Health Profile Schuylkill County.” https://www.lvhn.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/N17519_CHNA_Schuylkill_County_2022.pdf 
  2. Christman, Mackenzie. October 14, 2023. “Food insecurity in Schuylkill County “substantial” as neighbors do their part to help.” Republican Herald. https://www.republicanherald.com/news/food-insecurity-in-schuylkill-county-substantial-as-neighbors-do-their-part-to-help/article_b22e7237-ff32-5630-b018-f9095988eaed.html
  3. Feeding America. 2021. “Schuylkill County.” Overall (all ages) Hunger & Poverty in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania | Map the Meal Gap (feedingamerica.org)
  4. USDA. 2019. “Food Desert Atlas.” USDA ERS – Go to the Atlas 
  5. Helping Harvest. 2024. “How We Work.” https://helpingharvest.org/ 
  6. Census of Agriculture. 2017. “Schuylkill County.” USDA cp42107.pdf (usda.gov) 
  7. Penn State. 2019. “Schuylkill County Profile Report.” Schuylkill County Profile Report 2019.docx (psu.edu)
  8. Schuylkill Conservation District. 2024. “Agricultural Conservation.” Schuylkill Conservation District – Agricultural Conservation (schuylkillcd.com)
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