Oregon Public Broadcasting

The state of Oregon says recent economic losses have erased victories in the fight against hunger.

Agriculture Department Director Katy Coba says her agency’s federal counterparts have determined that food insecurity is on the rise, nationally, and in Oregon.

Coba says a broad hunger-fighting effort dating back to 2003 couldn’t weather the recession.

Katy Coba  “Oregon ranked as the number one hungriest state in the nation. There’s been a number of efforts by all kinds of players, and those efforts proved to be successful. Dropped from being the #1 hungriest state in the nation. The bad news is we’re back up.”

Oregon is now the second hungriest state, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service.

Coba says innovative programs have teamed the state’s prolific food producers with food banks.

It’s not that Oregon doesn’t grow enough to feed its people. According to Coba, the problem lies with getting food to people who need it in a way they can afford.