TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - One day before she takes the oath of office, Agriculture Commissioner-Elect Nikki Fried kicks off a service project.
Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried is bringing fresh ideas to the table to help families struggling to get access to healthy food. And according to Second Harvest, Big Bend counties have one of the highest rates of hunger in all of Florida.
1 in 5 people across the Big Bend are food insecure and that's exactly why Fried spent Monday touring Second Harvest and learning about their feeding programs.
She said she plans to work with the organization to secure funding for food banks across Florida.
"We are doing such a great service to our state when we are providing food services like this and it's something that people in the NRC don't really realize unless you are experiencing it firsthand," said Fried.
Fried said she wants to fund research for citrus growers across the state and implement school programs to get young children interested in agriculture, but also to help college students get access to healthy food.
"Working closely with our universities and our community colleges because a lot of students are food insecure as well and if we can help them have healthy meals, they're going to do better in school," said Rick Minor, President of Second Harvest of the Big Bend.
Other issues Fried says she plans to focus on: tightening the process of concealed weapons permit applications, advocating for the marijuana industry and collaborating with neighboring states to solve Florida's water supply problems.
Fried will be sworn into office Tuesday along with Governor-elect Ron DeSantis and others.
