The USDA has announced a $1.13 billion investment to support local and regional food systems.
The department said the money builds on its previous investments in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement and Local Food for Schools programs.
This round of funding, announced on Oct. 1, will allow states, territories and federally recognized tribes to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods for distribution within their communities to emergency food providers, schools and child care centers, according to a news release. Those interested in applying for this round of LFS, which now includes funding for child care centers, can visit the LFS website. Those wishing to participate in this round of LFPA can visit the LFPA website.
Producers wishing to receive information about becoming a vendor for LFPA or for LFS should contact their respective state, territory or tribal purchasing authorities, according to the release.
“These programs expand on the prior achievements of USDA’s LFPA and LFS programs and carry them into 2025, assuring local farmers, families, and communities that they will continue to get the help they need,” said USDA Undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The programs reaffirm our commitment to bolstering local economies, ensuring food security, and fostering resilient agricultural communities nationwide.”
“USDA believes that a healthier future for our country starts with our children,” said Cindy Long, USDA deputy undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services. “We are excited to build on these successful collaborations that connect schools and emergency food organizations with nutritious food from local farmers and producers by expanding the model to childcare facilities for the first time. Families can feel good knowing their kids are eating food that was grown right in their own community.”
USDA said it will allocate up to $471.5 million for states and territories to purchase local, unprocessed or minimally processed domestic foods for use by schools participating in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs and up to $188.6 million for use in child care facilities participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Additionally, USDA will allocate up to $471.5 million for states, territories and tribal governments to use in local feeding programs, including food banks, schools and other organizations that reach underserved communities; of that, $100 million will go to tribal governments, the release said.
Conceived in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LFPA, LFPA Plus and LFS programs have invested over $1 billion into local food purchases to date, the release said. Through the LFPA programs, USDA said it has provided $900 million in funding to 50 states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and 84 tribal governments sourcing foods from over 8,000 local producers, with more than 5,000 identified as underserved. This food has gone to 7,900 food banks, food pantries and communities throughout the U.S., the release said.
Additionally, LFS has awarded up to $200 million for states and territories to purchase domestic, local foods for use in their National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the USDA said.
