The announcement is part of a $400 million U.S. bailout package aimed at improving food security and strengthening agricultural supply chains
WASHINGTON, July 27, 2022 – Today, during a visit to the Yolo County Food Bank in Woodland, California, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Agriculture (USDA) had signed a cooperation agreement with California as part of the assistance for the purchase of local food. Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). The LFPA is a program authorized by the President’s US bailout, which has 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 foods from underserved producers. The announcement is part of the Biden administration’s priority to produce more affordable, high-quality food and help lower costs for more Americans.
“Giving more producers access to new markets and helping more food-insecure Americans will require new partnerships, new innovations, and new ways of thinking — and the best solutions can often be local,” said Secretary Vilsack. “This program offers U.S. tribes, states, and territories the opportunity to work in new and creative ways with their local partners, connecting their producers with underserved communities. Food purchases made through the LFPA will provide consistent access to locally and regionally sourced food, helping to provide economic stability for farmers, producers and families, and improving health outcomes through nutrition and increased food security.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will partner with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Association of Food Banks (CAFB), and California Food Banks to purchase food to underserved farmers statewide serving approximately 250,000 families and provide farm outreach and education services.
“Through this innovative program, California will be able to support local and underserved farmers while expanding access to farm-fresh foods for families in need,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “We look forward to working with federal, state and local partners to strengthen state food systems and support communities across California.”
“This new cooperative agreement will build resilience in the local food supply chain to support thousands of California families and farmers facing the challenges of supply chain disruptions and the growing effects of climate change,” said US Senator Alex Padilla. “I look forward to continuing to work with the USDA to build a climate-resilient food system that supports California’s agriculture industry and local communities.”
The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve the resilience of the food and agricultural supply chain. Under this program, the 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 within 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 source 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 Cooperative Local Food Assistance Program webpage.
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