California Sen. Dianne Feinstein says food banks in the state's agricultural regions need help from the federal government to meet a massive increase in demand.
She blamed three years of below-normal precipitation in California, which has led to fallowed fields, and a high unemployment in many Central Valley communities. The jobless rate has been as high as 40 percent in some areas.
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the California Democrat said the problem is worst in Fresno County. Food banks there need another 4 million pounds of food per month just to meet the existing need.
