Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan F. Quarles has made food insecurity a priority by forming a Hunger Task Force to further his Hunger Initiative and address issues facing Kentuckians who lack access to enough food.

Quarles said it is unfortunate that one in six Kentuckians are affected by hunger, especially in a state with a large agriculture industry. According to Map the Meal Gap 2016, an annual study by Feeding America, about 17 percent of Kentucky residents – 743,310 people, including 222,380 children – were considered food insecure.

“The objective is to figure out what we can do and develop a long term contingent plan,” Quarles told the Daily News. “The people serving on the initiative represent grocery stores, restaurants like KFC, farmers across Kentucky, church communities and the food banks that have great knowledge in serving the need of Kentuckians already.”

The Kentucky Hunger Initiative has three goals: to build and expand partnerships between the public and private sectors that will minimize hunger in Kentucky; to strengthen Kentucky’s food-distribution infrastructure to enable farmers to better serve the needs of Kentuckians; and to increase education and public awareness of hunger.

“I feel that we’re the best entity to facilitate this discussion,” Quarles said of the Department of Agriculture. “We really hope to bring attention to an issue that affects far too many Kentuckians.”

The commissioner said regional meetings will be planned, with one in Bowling Green, but no dates are set at this time. He hopes the meetings will start a conversation among entities involved in food distribution.

Joe Ballance, owner of Triple Oaks Farms in Warren County, said he supports the commissioner’s initiative, but the problem is that farmers have a raw product that has a long way to go before being edible. 

“I think people are willing to help in any way they can, but we’re harvesting wheat right now and it’s got to be processed to be edible,” Ballance said. “We’re ready to feed a hungry world, but the hungry world has to be willing to buy our products.”

HOTEL INC Director Rhondell Miller said she is looking forward to when the task force comes to Bowling Green to hear discussion about the issues.

“I think it’s important to see the agriculture commissioner have his eyes open to the fact that so many Kentuckians are experiencing hunger, especially in a heavy agricultural state,” Miller said. 

She said she plans to bring up the idea of getting local food into food pantries and food banks. She’s had issues in the past when local farmers sent their items to the food bank in Elizabethtown, only for it to be sent right back to Bowling Green.

“Fresh food has been a part of HOTEL INC now for four years, as well as offering cooking classes, basic recipes and teaching people how to cook with fresh foods, because for many people it’s something they haven’t grown up with or don’t use on a regular basis,” Miller said.

— Follow faith/general assignments reporter Simone C. Payne on Twitter @SimonePayne or visit bgdailynews.com.