In 2022, the USDA created two new programs – the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for School Programs – to give states funding to purchase nutritious and fresh foods from local farmers for food banks and schools. We’ve seen firsthand the positive economic and social benefits of these programs, from creating stable markets for local farmers and strengthening systems for cooperation and aggregation among local producers, to improving access to fresh food for low-income communities.
Unfortunately, in March 2025, USDA Secretary, Brooke Rollins, terminated the funding for these popular and impactful programs. In the months since the termination, there has been growing bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate to create a new permanent alternative to these programs. Two bills have been introduced, one in each chamber, to expand economic opportunities for local farmers, with an emphasis on purchasing from small-scale, medium-scale, veteran and beginning farmers. While each chamber has a different approach to the programs that would be created by their bill, both would make much needed investments in local farm businesses and community food security.
In the coming weeks, we’re calling on you to reach out to your Senators and Representative to ask them to cosponsor these bills.
Tell your Senators how the Strengthening Local Food Security Act would benefit your community and ask them to cosponsor the bill.
Tell your Representative how the Local Farms Feeding Our Communities Act would benefit your community and ask them to cosponsor the bill.
Find contact information for your members of Congress here: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
Thank you for your time and help supporting farmers and our local food system!
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