USDA invests $1.13 billion in local food systems

Boosting local food access for schools and communities

The USDA announced a significant $1.13 billion investment to support local and regional food systems. This funding builds on the success of its Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food for Schools (LFS) programs, which now extend to child care facilities.

“These programs expand on prior achievements and carry them into 2025,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary. This initiative ensures continued support for local farmers and underserved communities.

The funds will be distributed as follows: $471.5 million for schools, $188.6 million for child care programs, and $100 million for Tribal governments. The goal is to source minimally processed local foods and strengthen partnerships between producers and emergency food providers.

Conceived during the pandemic, the LFPA and LFS programs have already channeled over $1 billion to local food systems, impacting 7,900 food banks and 8,000 local producers.

This latest investment promises to deepen their impact, expanding access to healthy, locally produced foods while empowering agricultural communities.

As Cindy Long, USDA Deputy Under Secretary, noted: “Families can feel good knowing their kids are eating food that was grown right in their own community.”

For more information, visit www.usda.gov.