The announcement is part of a $400 million US Rescue Plan program to improve food security and strengthen agricultural supply chains
WASHINGTON, July 27, 2022 — Today, during a visit to the Yolo County Food Bank in Woodland, California, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed a cooperation agreement with California. under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The LFPA is a program authorized through the President’s American Rescue Plan, which invested $400 million to make food more affordable for more Americans and help stabilize agricultural supply chains. Through the LFPA, the California Department of Social Services seeks to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced and processed food from underserved producers. The announcement is part of the Biden Administration’s priority to produce more high-quality, affordable food, helping to lower costs for more Americans.
“Providing access to new markets for more producers and helping more Americans experiencing food insecurity will take new partnerships, new innovations, and new ways of thinking — and the best solutions can often be local,” said the Secretary. Vilsack. “This program provides US tribes, states, and territories the ability to work in new and creative ways with their local partners, establishing connections between their producers and underserved communities . Food purchases made through the LFPA will provide consistent access to locally and regionally sourced food, help provide economic stability for farmers, producers, and families, and improve health outcomes through nutrition and greater food security.”
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will partner with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Association of -California Food Banks (CAFB) and the California Food Banks to purchase food from local and underserved farmers across the state serving approximately 250,000 families and providing farm outreach and education.
“Through this innovative program, California will be able to support local and underserved farmers while expanding access to farm-fresh food for families in need,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “We look forward to working with federal, state and local partners to strengthen the state’s food systems and support communities across California.”
“This new cooperative agreement will strengthen the resilience of the local food supply chain to support thousands of California families and farmers who face the challenges of supply chain disruptions and the increasing effects of climate change,” said US Senator Alex Padilla. “I look forward to continuing to work with USDA to build a climate-resilient food system that supports California’s local agricultural industry and communities.”
The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve the resilience of the food supply chain and agriculture. Through this program, USDA will award up to $400 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments to support local, regional and underserved producers through the purchase of food produced in the state or within 400 miles of the delivery destination.
AMS looks forward to continuing to sign agreements under this innovative program that enables state and tribal governments to procure and distribute local and regional foods and beverages that are healthy, nutritious, and unique to their geographic area.
More information about the program is available on the AMS Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program web page.
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