Support Farmers & Food Access
Published by National Young Farmers Coalition on April 23, 2025:When USDA terminated the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools Program (LFS) programs, it cancelled valuable contracts for farmers and made it more difficult for food banks and schools to get the food our communities need. Tell your Members of Congress to support permanent funding for these programs and invest in healthy food for all!
HONOR PROMISES MADE TO FARMERS
Did you know that for the last several years, farmers, schools, and food distributors have been working together to serve fresh, local food in schools and food pantries across the nation?
Until just a few weeks ago, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools Program (LFS) at USDA were doing just that. Both programs were working to build stronger local supply chains and promote market access for smaller scale and historically underserved farmers and ranchers at the same time.
Despite the programs' wide success with farmers and families, on Friday, March 7, the USDA announced the termination of over $1 billion in previously announced 2025 funding for LFPA and LFS. The loss of these investments will have lasting effects on local food networks. Farmers depend on these contracts, as many of them shifted their businesses to accommodate the new demand, and food banks and local schools will lose out on high quality local produce.
Your members of Congress have the power to create permanent versions of these programs that farmers and communities can depend on through the Farm Bill, but we need your help to build broad, bipartisan support!
Can you take a moment to email your legislators and ask them to support making LFPA and LFS funding permanent through the Farm Bill?