ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's farmers are in the gift-giving mood.

The New York Farm Bureau announced this week that so far this year farmers from around the state have donated nearly 11 million pounds of food to regional food banks so far this year. That's enough food to serve nearly 9 million meals.

The Farm Bureau announces the total each year around the holidays. This year's haul is more than 1.6 million pounds higher than last year's total.

Since the initiative began farmers have donated more than 85 million pounds of food to food banks.

New York state food banks distribute more than 225 million pounds of food to almost 3 million people annually.

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