USDA Announces Texas Joins Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has signed a cooperative agreement with Texas under the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA). Utilizing LFPA funding, Texas will create a program that will foster in-state, long-term relationships and build sustainable market opportunities for state producers.

“USDA is excited to partner with Texas to promote economic opportunities for farmers and producers and to increase access to locally sourced, fresh, healthy, and nutritious food in underserved communities,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement Program will improve food and agricultural supply-chain resiliency and increase local food consumption around the country.”

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) will use LFPA funding to support small and underserved producers to increase the number of products distributed to underserved communities in the state. TDA plans to arrange food distribution to accommodate unique local challenges in order to serve communities and feeding programs.

Program funds will be administered through a competitive grant program serving food banks, nonprofits, and other social service organizations. Program staff will engage with subrecipients to foster sustainable new markets for purchasing state products, especially from underserved producers, and promote distribution to communities with limited access to fresh, local food.

The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Through this program, USDA will award up to $400 million through non-competitive cooperative agreements with state and tribal governments to support local, regional, and socially underserved producers through the purchase of food produced within the state or within 400 miles of delivery destination.

More information about the program is available AMS’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program webpage.