Over the past several years, there has been a tremendous increase of programs across the United States that aim to strengthen small farm viability and food security by connecting local farms to food assistance distribution partners such as food banks, food pantries, and other grassroots efforts to end hunger.
One of the new programs aimed at food systems transformation that the agency is piloting is the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) program. With a total budget of $900M, LFPA (led by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Commodity Procurement Program) is a transformative federal initiative that empowers state agencies, tribal governments, and their community partners to collaboratively source and distribute food, benefiting local and USDA-defined “socially disadvantaged” producers and underserved communities.
To support the success of the LFPA program, the Wallace Center is conducting research, providing technical assistance, and convening a national farm to food assistance (F2FA) Community of Practice to amplify and share best practices in this emerging field.
Years Active: 2021 – 2024