Florida’s Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Feeding Florida, has increased reimbursement rates for food banks purchasing Florida-grown beef, eggs, and dairy to help source more protein-rich foods.

Florida’s Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday that it increased reimbursement rates for food banks purchasing Florida-grown beef, eggs, and dairy.

The rate increase comes as part of a new partnership, also announced on Thursday, with Feeding Florida, the state’s only statewide network of food banks. The initiative intends to help food banks source more protein-rich foods, which are typically difficult and expensive to procure.

“This partnership benefits everyone involved,” Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said. “It supports our food banks, helps those in need, and provides a market for our farmers and ranchers.”

Per the agency, Feeding Florida’s nine food banks distributed more than 412 million pounds of food to 2.9 million residents in the last fiscal year. Of this, more than 51 million pounds were sourced from farms and ranches across the state.

“Nutrient-rich proteins are some of the most difficult products for our food banks to procure, yet they are critical for the health of Florida’s families, especially children,” said Robin Safley, CEO of Feeding Florida.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the Florida Legislature allocated $6.5 million to enable the initiative, led by Senate President-Designate Ben Albritton.

“By working together, we are strengthening our food banks, supporting our farmers and ranchers, and bolstering Florida’s food security,” Simpson continued.